Big Beliefs! A devotional for families on Christian doctrine
General Editor:David R. Helm CopyrightŠ 2002, Holy Trinity Church, Chicago, Illinois
Big Beliefs! A devotional for families on Christian doctrine
* Based on The Westminster Confession of Faith
Table of Contents Page Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Part I: GOD'S WORD Lesson 1 The Holy Scripture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Part II: GOD Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Lesson 3 Lesson 4
God, the Holy Trinity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . God's Eternal Decree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Providence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Part III: THE FALL, SIN and MANKIND Lesson 1 Sin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lesson 2 God's Covenant with Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lesson 3 Jesus Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Part IV: SALVATION Lesson 1 Free Will . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lesson 2 Effectual Calling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lesson 3 Justification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lesson 4 Adoption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lesson 5 Sanctification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lesson 6 Saving Faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lesson 7 Repentance Unto Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Part V: THE CHRISTIAN LIFE Lesson 1 Good Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lesson 2 Perseverance of the Saints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lesson 3 Assurance of Grace and Salvation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lesson 4 The Law of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lesson 5 Christian Liberty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lesson 6 Religious Worship and the Sabbath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lesson 7 Oaths and Vows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lesson 8 Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lesson 9 Marriage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Part VI: THE CHURCH Lesson 1 The Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lesson 2 The Communion of Saints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lesson 3 The Sacraments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lesson 4 Baptism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lesson 5 The Lord's Supper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lesson 6 Church Censures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lesson 7 Synods and Councils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Part VII: THE LAST THINGS Lesson 1 Death and Resurrection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lesson 2 The Last Judgment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
APPENDIX:
The Westminster Confession of Faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction History More than 350 years ago in London, on July 1, 1643, 150 men gathered at the request of the Long Parliament. What these men could not have known then was that they would meet together for five days a week over a period of more than four years. They owe their name, "The Westminster Divines", to the place in which they labored: the Jerusalem Chamber of Westminster Abbey. The majority were puritan pastors and they gathered in an effort to stave off a civil war. King Henry the VII had declared himself, and not the Pope of Rome, to be the head of the church. Therefore, Parliament commanded this 'assembly of divines' put forward, to their best understanding, the Bible's teaching on Christian doctrine, discipline and church government. What emerged after years of study, debate, and discourse was, in part, The Westminster Confession of Faith. So influential was their work that the Princeton theologian B.B. Warfield said of it, "In these forms of words we possess the most complete, the most fully elaborated and carefully guarded, the most perfect, and the most vital expression that has ever been framed by the hand of man, of all that enters into what we call evangelical religion, and of all that must be safeguarded if evangelical religion is to persist in the world."
Today One of the exalted privileges of being a pastor today is the opportunity to help young and eager minds get an early grasp on Christian doctrine. At Holy Trinity Church, Chicago, we have a commitment to provide fresh gospel resources for our many young families who are attempting to instruct their children in the Christian faith. As evidence of this commitment, we have already written and published The Big Picture Devotional: a one-year family devotional that traces the plot-line of the Bible. That work, which includes children's Sunday School and adult small group study guides, was our first attempt at teaching biblical theology to kids. Big Beliefs! is our more recent attempt at teaching theology systematically to our children. In doing so, it traces the Westminster Confession of Faith, covering each of the Confession's 33 doctrinal headings one week at a time. We also have written children's Sunday School curriculum to reinforce what this devotional is teaching in the home.
The difficulty of family devotions Most parents find that doing family devotions with any sense of regularity is difficult. For starters, many young parents never had devotions modeled in the home in which they grew up. On top of that, most parents feel overwhelmed at the notion of doing devotions on a daily basis. They miss a few days, lose heart, and give up. Our response to these difficulties is to take heart! Big Beliefs! is written to help parents succeed and to help children grow in grace.
How to use Big Beliefs!: 3 Easy Steps 1.
Commit: Big Beliefs! only requires three family devotions a week, not seven!
2.
Read: Simply read aloud to your children the short Bible reading for the day along with the brief devotional paragraph that unfolds the Christian doctrine for that week.
3.
Discuss: Follow up your reading by asking your children the two interactive and reflection questions which are meant to spur healthy conversation about what you learned that day.
To help those parents who wish to go further, we have also printed The Westminster Confession of Faith in the back of this devotional as a resource. In fact, if you desire to look more closely at what we have chosen to emphasize on any particular day, all you have to do is take note of the parenthesis which immediately follows the heading for that day. The number listed there—for example: (13.4)— corresponds to the chapter and paragraph number of the Confession's summary of that doctrine.
Acknowledgements I would like to thank Blane Conklin for his commitment to get this project off the ground as well as for his willingness to write some of the devotional lessons. Also, my appreciation goes to Steve Ahrenholz for his joyful participation in the work of the gospel at Holy Trinity as well for overseeing this particular project with its many details and deadlines. Further, I am grateful to Jon Dennis and David Camera, my colleagues in ministry who willingly joined me in writing some of the devotionals. In addition, I am glad to acknowledge that the brief individual prayers we have included for each week were taken from the following sources: The Book of Common Prayer (1549,1662,1928), The Scottish Book of Common Prayer (1929), The Church of South India: The Book of Common Worship (1963), The Daily Office by the Joint Liturigical Group (1968), Modern Collects (South Africa, 1972), The Saram Missal, and the Gelasian Sacramentary. Finally, I want to acknowledge the children of Holy Trinity Church, Chicago—it is for your salvation that we gladly labor, counting it sweet joy!
David R. Helm Chicago, July 2002
PART I: GOD'S WORD Lesson 1 The Holy Scripture Prayer: Blessed Lord, you gave us the Scriptures to point the way to salvation: teach us to hear them, read them and study them with love and prayer and strengthen us by their inspiration to hold firm the hope of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 1. The Record of Revelation (1.1) Bible Reading: I John 1:1-4 Devotional Reading: Abraham Lincoln was one of the greatest Presidents our nation has ever known. How much do you know about this man? Where was he born? Was he short or tall? Did he have a wife and children? What was one of the greatest things he accomplished as President? How did he die? If you get a chance, try to find the answers to these questions. But how will you find out? Did you ever meet Abraham Lincoln? Do you know anyone who ever met or saw him? The answer to these last two questions is "no," because President Lincoln died over 135 years ago. The only way we can know the answers to these questions is because people who were there and knew him and saw him have recorded these things in books or other written records. The same thing is true about the things that God did for his people thousands of years ago. As we begin walking through Big Beliefs!, remember, the Bible is the place we must to go to learn about God, ourselves, and how we come to know him. Interaction and Reflection: In the coming weeks we will be learning exciting stuff about Christian doctrine using the Westminster Confession of Faith. Why do you think the writers of the Confession started with a summary on "what is the Bible?" rather than a statement on something else like "who is God?" or "who are people?" (Note: The Bible is where we need to go to learn the answers to other questions.) Take a moment to pray—ask God to reveal great things to us in the coming weeks through the Bible. 2. The Guide to Salvation (1.5, 1.6, 1.7) Bible Reading: Psalm 19 Devotional Reading: What kind of a book would you open to find the phone number to order a pizza? (A phonebook.) What kind of book would you look into to learn how to make a pizza? (A cookbook.) What if you wanted to learn the meaning of a new word, what kind of book would you use? (A dictionary.) Every book has a purpose, and some of the most enjoyable books are those whose purpose is to tell an exciting story, like The Hobbit, or Gulliver's Travels. What about the Bible, what should we be looking for when we open and read it? There are no phone numbers or recipes in it, although there are many exciting stories. The primary purpose of the Bible is to teach us about God and his plan of salvation for the world. It tells about what God did in the past with his people, and about the coming of his Son Jesus, and the spread of the good news about Jesus to the whole world. So far this week we have learned two very important things: first, the Bible is the book to which we turn to learn about God, and second, it is the book that teaches us about how we come to know God. Interaction and Reflection Note: The Westminster Confession of Faith has two threads running which hold it together. They are: the supremacy of God over all things, and, his glory to be received by our salvation. Just think, those two threads have already been hinted at in these first two devotionals. If we didn't have the Bible, how much would we really know about the supremacy of God over all things and his glorious plan of salvation? 3. Listening to the Word of God (1.4) Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 6:1-9 Devotional Reading: Did you know that some scientists spend their entire day just listening? They use very expensive equipment that allows them to listen to radio waves coming from other parts of the universe. What they hear may one day be used to help other scientists make important discoveries. Well, as Christians we believe that we are to work very hard at listening to God speak in the Bible. We believe that God has spoken to us in the words of the Bible. The Bible is the Word of God; it reveals everything that God wants us to know about how to live as his people in this world. If you want to know who God is, who we are, and how we come to know God, then pay close attention to the Bible.
Interaction and Reflection: ƒ This week we have been learning about the Bible. We have discovered how important it is and why we should be thankful to have it. Do you think there is any other book quite like the Bible? ƒ If you have small children is a good day to sing a song like "The B-I-B-L-E", or, "Jesus Loves Me".
PART II: GOD Lesson 1 God, the Holy Trinity Prayer: Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. 1. There is only one God (2.1) Bible Reading: Psalm 145 Devotional Reading: What all do we mean when we say that there is one God? First of all, we are saying that there is definitely a God. There are some people who do not believe that God exists. Second, we are saying that there is only One God, not two or three or one hundred. In ancient times, most people believed in many gods, and even today there are some religions that believe in many gods, thinking that each of the gods takes care of a particular area of life. The Bible teaches that there is only one God, and he is able and willing to take care of everything we need. Finally, when we say that there is one God, we are saying that the God we read about in the Old Testament, the Creator and Caller of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is the same God we read about in the New Testament, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the same, yesterday, today and forever. Interaction and Reflection: Why do you think the writers of the Confession would follow their statement on the Bible immediately with one on God? What does Psalm 145 teach us about God? 2. One God in Three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (2.3) Bible Reading: Matthew 3:13-17 Devotional Reading: Do you think you have to understand something fully before knowing that it is true? I sure hope not! Or else you would have to fully know how eating an apple makes you stronger before you could say that it is true—or precisely how flipping a switch truly makes the lights come on. The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the most important truths in the Christian faith, but it is also one of the most difficult to fully understand. The Bible teaches two important things at the same time: first, God is one; he is not divided into many gods; second, God has revealed himself as three persons who are The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. These three persons in the Trinity work perfectly together, without any arguments or problems. We may not fully understand how God is one essence in three persons—but we know enough from the Bible to say that this is true! God is a Trinity—Three in One. Interaction and Reflection: What does the Bible's teaching that God is a Trinity tell us about Jesus? Why is the Bible's teaching of the Trinity an important and exciting truth for us when we are talking to our dear friends who are Jewish, Muslim, or Mormon, etc? 3. God's Character (2.1, 2.2) Bible Reading: Exodus 34:1-9 Devotional Reading: Every child today is encouraged to be a person of good character. How would you define character? Well, in our Bible reading today we get a glimpse of God's good character. God is both just and merciful. In our passage, something happened just before that made God very upset. His people made a golden idol to worship. This was a serious act of disobedience. Moses prayed to God asking God to forgive the people, and God heard and answered his prayer. In verses 6-7 God describes himself as gracious and merciful, someone who forgives the sins of those who are sorry, but also someone who punishes those who are not sorry and repentant. This statement about God's character is so important. It shows us that he is both merciful toward sinners, yet true and just in all his punishments. Interaction and Reflection: What would your opinion of God be if the Bible had not told you that God is merciful? In light of God's justice, take a minute to pray the prayer provided above.
PART II: GOD Lesson 2 God's Eternal Decree Prayer: O God, who by the passion of your blessed Son has made the instrument of shameful death to be unto us the means of life and peace: Grant us so to glory in the Cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss; for the same your Son our Lord. 1. A Glorious Mystery (3.8) Bible Reading: Romans 11:33-36 Devotional Reading: Did you have any choice about where you were born? How about your eye color, did you have any choice in that? Did you have anything to say about what your name would be? Probably not. But there's another question that Christians should ask themselves: Did you have anything to do with the fact that God loved you before you even knew him? The answer is: No, God loved you before you knew him, and so he loved you before you could even do anything to please him. This is certainly a glorious mystery. We cannot explain why God loved us so much to send his Son Jesus to live, die, and rise again for our salvation. But even though we cannot explain it, aren't you thankful that he did? Interaction and Reflection: Today we are starting the second week of four in which the writers of the Confession help us learn things about God. Can you tell me what we learned last week about God? (Note: We learned that there is only One God who exists in three persons and his character is both merciful and just). This week we are learning about God's Eternal Decree—the things that God determined from all eternity. What are some aspects of God's Eternal Decree that you are thankful for? 2. Amazing Grace (3.5, 3.6, 3.7) Bible Reading: II Samuel 9:1-13 Devotional Reading: Don't you like to read stories about someone who is kind to one in need? In our passage today we read about King David's gracious act toward a man named Mephibosheth, who was the grandson of Saul, the old king. Saul had been an enemy of David before Saul died and David became king. It was very common in the ancient world for a new king to kill the entire family of the old king, so that the children of the old king could not come back and take the throne from the new king. But rather than kill Mephibosheth, David welcomed him into his house and had him eat at his own table as if he was one of his own family members. But there is one more detail in the story that we should notice. David was kind to Mephibosheth because David was a friend of Mephibosheth's father, Jonathan. This story is a good illustration of God's grace to us. Though we didn't deserve it, God brought us into his house and feeds us at his family table—all because of what Jesus did for us. Interaction and Reflection: How are your affections for God strengthened by learning that the Bible teaches that he intended, even before any of us were born, to be gracious to his children by sending Jesus to pay for their sins? Take a minute to pray the prayer provided above. 3. Praise to God (3.8) Bible Reading: Psalm 100 Devotional Reading: How should you act when you have received a gift? Some people take the gift and leave without saying anything to the person who gave it to them. Some people take the gift and boast about it to others who did not receive a gift, as if it was something about themselves that made them deserve the gift in the first place. All of us who are in God's family have received a very special gift—the gift of God's grace—forgiveness of sins, and the hope of eternal life. How should we respond? First of all, we should realize that we did not do anything to deserve God's gift, and so we have no reason to boast about it as if we did deserve it. Second, we should express our thankfulness to God. We can do this with our words, such as the words in Psalm 100, and also with our actions, such as living in obedience to God's commands, and by showing the world with our words and actions that God is willing to give this incredible gift to them as well. Interaction and Reflection:
What are some simple ways you can show praise to God for his gracious decree of the gift of Jesus? Next week we will learn a third thing the writers of the Westminster Confession of Faith gathered from the Bible about God. Can you recall the two things we have already learned about God? (Note: The Holy Trinity and God's Eternal Decrees).
PART II: GOD Lesson 3 Creation Prayer: Almighty God, you have created the heavens and the earth and made man in your own image. Teach us to discern your hand in all your works, and to serve you with reverence and thanksgiving; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns supreme over all things, now and for ever. 1. Maker of Heaven and Earth (4.1, 4.2) Bible Reading: Acts 17:22-31 Devotional Reading: The universe that God created is bigger than we can possibly imagine, yet every detail is more complex than we are fully able to understand. Did you know that your own body is made up of millions of cells, each of which is a tiny factory that does a special job to keep you running properly? Did you know that there are about 9 million people living in the Chicago area and that if all the people in the world lived in a city the size of Chicago, there would be 650 other Chicago-sized cities in the world?! All of us live on Earth, one of the smallest of 9 planets that circle a sun that would be large enough to contain 1 million Earths. This solar system is only one of billions in our galaxy, the Milky Way, and this galaxy is only one of billions of galaxies in the entire universe. And we—we—are children of the God who made all of this. Interaction and Reflection: This week we will be learning that our Trinitarian God who decreed all things is also the One who created everything for his own glory. Can you name some things that reflect the greatness of God? Take a minute to pray the prayer provided above. 2. It is Very Good (4.1) Bible Reading: Genesis 1:26-31 Devotional Reading: It is one thing to think about the greatness of God's creation, as we did in the last devotional. But how often do we think of the goodness of God's creation? If the earth were any closer to the sun, it would be too hot for life to exist on it, and if it were any farther away, it would be too cold. Everything we need for life springs up from the ground, and the air has just the right mix of gasses to keep both plants and animals living and breathing. But there is another way in which God's creation is very good: it is good because it reflects the goodness of God himself. God created the world to display his goodness and wisdom, and he created us for the same reason. When we understand that God did indeed create the universe and everything in it, we can learn so much about God's goodness and wisdom through observing and taking good care of his creation. Interaction and Reflection: What are some ways you can think of in which God's goodness is displayed through creation? Does the fact that God created the heavens and the earth teach you anything about who is in charge? 3. In His Image (4.2) Bible Reading: Psalm 8 Devotional Reading: Who can tell me what the word apex means? It means the high point or peak. When God created the heavens and the earth, did you know that human beings were the apex of his creation? The creation story says that Adam and Eve were the last of God's creations. It was as if everything else was prepared just for them. It was like a surprise party, where all the preparations are made, all the decorations hung, all the food set out, just in time for the guest of honor to show up. Why were humans considered so special? The Psalmist in our passage asked the same question, "What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man, that you care for him?" The answer is that man—both male and female—was created in the image of God. Each person has an imprint, a stamp, upon him that identifies him as one of God's special creations. Being in the image of God means that we were made to worship God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to rule this world for his glory.
Interaction and Reflection: All humans are created in the image of God, including those that are not yet Christians. What are some ways in which even non-Christians show that they are the apex of God's creation? Can you think of some people you know who might want to become Christians? Why not pray right now for an opportunity to tell them about the greatness and goodness of God in Jesus. (Note: Jesus is the one son of man who perfectly reflects the image of God. That is why he is worthy of being followed.)
PART II: GOD Lesson 4 Providence Prayer: Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 1. The Great Symphony (5.1, 5.2, 5.3) Bible Reading: Genesis 50:15-21 Devotional Reading: In a good symphony, the director masterfully guides every individual musician through the same musical piece, and the result is a concert that is pleasing to listen to. In the story of Joseph, God directed the actions of many people through a great symphony in which they did not even know they were participating. Joseph's boastful dreams made his brothers jealous, and so they sold him as a slave into Egypt. In Egypt, Joseph underwent many different trials and situations that just 'happened' to put him in charge of the whole country, second only to the king himself. Joseph's wisdom helped Egypt and the surrounding regions survive through a terrible famine. During this famine, Joseph's brothers came to Egypt to buy food, and guess who they met? The brother they had sold into slavery years before. Through this symphony, God provided for many people in a terrible time, he reunited Joseph with his Father and brothers, and he brought the Israelites into Egypt, where years later God would direct another masterful symphony. Interaction and Reflection: This week we finish Part 2 of the Westminster Confession of Faith. Do you recall what Part 1 was about? (Note: The Bible). How about Part 2? It has four weeks devoted to it. (Note: God). Can you think of a time in your life when God was working things out in a way you did not expect? 2. God Cares for All (5.7) Bible Reading: Psalm 104:14-30 Devotional Reading: One day Bill was thinking of how great it was to work for his boss. After all, Bill knew that his boss had the weight of the whole business on his shoulders. Just then, Bill saw him coming around the corner. "Hey Boss," Bill called out, "Thanks for taking care of everything around here." Well, this week we are learning about God's providence. As we saw in the last devotional, providence means that God continues to take care of the things and the people he has created. He keeps the sun coming up every morning, he gives rain to the plants and trees, he feeds the animals their meals, and he helps you grow bigger and stronger every day. If you have noticed, all of these things benefit all humans, whether they are Christians or not. God takes care of all his creatures in his providence, even people who do not love or serve him. God's actions are an example to us. We should do our part in taking care of plants and trees and animals in ways God desires. And in the same way we should do good things for others, whether they are Christians or not. Interaction and Reflection: Besides what we discovered in our devotional today, name some other works of God's providence. Take a moment to thank God in prayer for the things you listed. 3. For the Good of His Church (5.7) Bible Reading: Romans 8:26-30 Devotional Reading: Do you have a hard time believing that good things can come about from bad experiences? Well, it's true. Remember the story of Joseph? Some very bad things happened to him, things that he did not understand. Yet we saw that God was still watching over him, and was even using all of those bad things to bring about something good. This is true for
all God's people—the church. Many things happen to individual Christians or to the church as a whole that look bad and are hard to understand. Just because we are Christians does not mean that everything in our lives will be nice, happy, or easy to understand. Both good and bad things happen to everyone, whether they are Christians or not. However, our passage in Romans 8 promises us that no matter what happens to us, God is watching out for us for our ultimate good, just as he did for Joseph and the Israelites. Interaction and Reflection: ƒ Does God's providence mean that nothing bad will ever happen to us? Knowing the answer to this, how should we respond to God in hard times? ƒ Can you recite the four things about God that the writers of the Westminster Confession focused our attention on from the Bible? (Note: Trinity, Eternal Decrees, Creation, Providence)
PART III: THE FALL, SIN and MANKIND Lesson 1 Sin Prayer: Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 1. The First Sin (6.1) Bible Reading: Romans 5:12-21 Devotional Reading: Do you like surprises? Some surprises are good, like hearing the music of the ice-cream truck coming down your street on a hot summer day, or, like unpacking groceries and discovering your favorite snacks in one of the bags! Not all surprises are good though are they? Sometimes we are surprised to find out that what we thought was good was really bad instead. Adam and Eve must have been surprised in a bad way that day in the garden when they disobeyed God. They thought that eating the fruit would bring them good surprises. Instead, it brought bad things for them— they became sinners under God's judgment. What a sad surprise. But did you know that God wasn't surprised by this? He wasn't. God would use this first sin to show his surprising grace and mercy in sending Jesus to rescue us. Interaction and Reflection: Today we begin Part 3 of Big Beliefs! Parts 1 and 2 taught us about the Bible and God. This part helps us understand who mankind is (The Fall), what God has promised to the fallen sons of men (God's Covenant), and who the son of man is who will rescue mankind (Jesus Christ). What does the sin of Adam teach you about who is responsible for the separation we have with God?
2. Our Family Resemblance (6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5) Bible Reading: Genesis 5:1-5; 6:5-8 Devotional Reading: Close your eyes for a minute. Now imagine that it is 95 degrees outside and you are standing next to a swimming pool—you are not wearing your swimming suit but the kind of clothes that you have to wear for 'picture day' at school. Now, imagine yourself jumping in the pool with all these clothes on! O.K. you can open your eyes now. Tell me, is there any chance that your socks would still be dry? No way! All your clothes would be soaked through. Every part of you would be all wet. Well, the Bible teaches us that when Adam and Eve 'jumped' into sin, every part of them was all wet with sin. There wasn't anything about them that wasn't soaked through with evil. The Bible reading today also showed us that each person is soaked with sin, that "every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually". We need God to help us with sin don't we? We need him to wash us in something other than Adam's sin. Interaction and Reflection: Can you think of some ways in which every aspect of your life is 'wet' with sin? Do you think that our Holy God can accept us into his presence just as we are on our own? Take a moment to pray the prayer for this week.
3. What We Deserve (6.6) Bible Reading: Psalm 38:1-4 Devotional Reading: Here's a tough exercise: try to explain the phrase "Every action has a consequence". Actions lead to outcome. For instance, if you jump into water you are bound to get wet. Can you think of other illustrations? Well, all this week we have been learning that the first sinful act in the garden led to a terrible outcome for all of us. Sin brought us a bad surprise. Having soaked ourselves in the pool of sin, God became angry with us. No wonder the Psalm we read today has a person praying, "O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath…For my [sins] have gone over my head". This week we have learned a hard but important truth: we are all sinners, rightly deserving God's anger and wrath. But, don't despair! Next week a happy truth comes to our rescue! God makes a promise to act on our behalf—and it will be his actions in history that reverse the consequences of our own.
Interaction and Reflection: Can you recall a time when you felt like the Psalmist who pleaded with God to forgive him? Be encouraged! Next week we will see the amazing grace of God who makes a promise to rescue us from sin!
PART III: THE FALL, SIN and MANKIND Lesson 2 God's Covenant with Man Prayer: God of peace, by the blood of the eternal covenant you brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus the great shepherd of the sheep; make us perfect in every good work, and work in us that which is pleasing and good; through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever. 1. God Bridges the Gap (7.1, 7.3) Bible Reading: Psalm 111 Devotional Reading: When you were a little baby, you were helpless. You could not feed yourself, you could not change your own clothes, and you could not tell your mother if something was hurting. Your parents had to know what you needed, and then they had to provide it for you. We saw last week that sin breaks our relationship with God. In a way, it makes us as helpless and needy as a little baby. Of course, little babies are helpless just because they are little, not because of sin. But all of us are completely unable to fix the problem that sin causes. God himself must act. Like a loving parent, God knows what we need, and he provides it for us. God's provision of what we need to have a relationship with him is what we call a covenant. As Psalm 111:9 says, "He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever." Interaction and Reflection: How are your affections for God strengthened by learning that he promises to rescue his people from sin? Take a minute to pray the prayer provided above. 2. Christ for Us (7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6) Bible Reading: Isaiah 52:13-53:12 Devotional Reading: Do you like taking trips? What is the most interesting place you have ever been? Mt. Rushmore? New York City? The Ocean? The Mountains? Or maybe another country? Wherever you have gone, you probably spent the days and weeks before your trip planning, packing, and just thinking about what you would do when you finally got there. On the way to your destination, chances are you asked your parents this question: "Are we there yet?" It was all about the final destination—the very purpose of your trip. What is the 'final destination' of God's covenant? What is it all about? Our passage gives us the answer: It is Jesus Christ, and everything he has done for us. God has made a covenant with us so that we might receive forgiveness for our sins, peace with God, and eternal life. And the best thing about this is that we can experience a taste of this 'final destination' in our lives here and now. Interaction and Reflection: In our Bible reading today, what are some of the things it says Jesus provided for us? How did he do it? Take a minute to thank God for what he has done for us in Christ. 3. The Church is our Connection (7.6) Bible Reading: Ephesians 3:1-13 Devotional Reading: In the last devotional we talked about our favorite trips we had taken. Sometime during the trip, did you ever ask your parents, "Are we there yet?" If you did, they probably told you to "enjoy the ride." It is true, sometimes the ride can be almost as much fun as the final destination. The ride is a good time to learn about and admire the landscape of the country, to read a book or listen to music, or to talk and play with your family members. If the 'final destination' in God's covenant is Jesus Christ and all he has done for us, the 'ride' is the church, or God's people. The Apostle Paul himself said in our passage today that it is through the church that the wisdom of God—Christ—is made known to the world. It is easy for us to overlook the importance of the church in God's plan for our salvation, but just like any trip that you might take, you cannot get to your final destination without the ride. So, enjoy the ride. Interaction and Reflection:
Do you think that the Bible teaches us that we should be living for God on our own or in a connected way with a visible church, which represents his body? Why is the church so important? Take a minute to thank God for his people, the church.
PART III: THE FALL, SIN and MANKIND Lesson 3 Jesus Christ Prayer: Heavenly Father you revealed Jesus as your beloved Son when the Holy Spirit came upon him at his baptism in the Jordan: grant that we, who have been baptized in him may rejoice to be your children and the servants of all; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 1. Fully God and Fully Man (8.2, 8.7) Bible Reading: Mark 2:1-12 Devotional Reading: I wonder what we might have said to Jesus if we had been the paralytic let down through the roof on that day. After all, everyone could see our problem—we couldn't walk! Yet, after being let down through a hole in the roof so as to be healed by this man Jesus, the first thing Jesus says to us is "My son, your sins are forgiven." I wonder if we might have said something like, "Thanks a lot, man,…for nothing! I was hoping for a chance to walk." I guess I am glad that we weren't that man! It is easier to read the story to see what Jesus was teaching. He wanted everyone to know that he was more than just a man who could heal people. It is true that Jesus was a man. But, he was so much more! He was God too. And he had the power to forgive sins! Jesus showed the world that he was fully man and fully God. He was the Sovereign One and the Son of Man, sent into the world to heal us from our sins. Interaction and Reflection: Why do you think the writers of the Confession follow up their statements on the Fall and God's Covenant, with one on the person of Jesus? Does the Bible teach us that there is any other way to be forgiven except through faith in Jesus? Take some time to confess to Jesus your sin and ask him to forgive you. 2. Prophet, Priest, and King (8.1, 8.8) Bible Reading: Psalm 110 Devotional Reading: Have you ever been in bed at night and overheard the adults talking with one another in another room? It's fun to listen in on their conversation, isn't it? Well, something like that is going on in the Psalm we just read. King David is listening in on a conversation that God the Father is having with God the Son. The father is saying, "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool." Then, he overheard who the Lord will be. He will be the king, the one who will rule and shatter all other kings. Not only that, but he will be "a priest forever". David was so fortunate to hear this. And when he wrote it down he prophesied that this would happen. And do you know what? It did happen! Jesus came into the world as God's Prophet, Priest and King. Jesus holds all these titles. Jesus is the Great Prophet who speaks for God. Jesus is the Priest who makes sacrifice for sin. And Jesus is God's King, the only one we must follow. Interaction and Reflection: Can you name some of the other roles Jesus has? Did you know that much of the Old Testament uses the offices of prophet, priest, and king, as pointers to the One true man who would hold all three? Other than David, can you recall any other Old Testament people who held one of these? 3. His Life's Work (8.3, 8.4, 8.5) Bible Reading: Philippians 2:1-11 Devotional Reading: I wonder how you would feel if you were an important person in the world? Have you noticed that important people have people standing ready to serve them? Sometimes important people get used to being waited on hand and foot. Sometimes important people begin to think more highly of themselves than they ought. Worse yet, even people like you and me, who aren't all that important, expect others to serve us. Well, in our Bible reading today, we learned that Jesus is not like us. After all, he was God, the most important person in the universe, yet he didn't stand around expecting others to serve him. No. He left his throne in heaven and became a servant. He died for us self-important
sinners. No wonder the Father exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name before which we should bow. The great one served everyone; therefore God named him the Greatest One. Shouldn't we be serving him? Interaction and Reflection: ƒ Read verses 1-5 again. How should we live because of the example of Jesus? ƒ What are some ways we can be serving Jesus?
PART IV: SALVATION Lesson 1 Free Will Prayer: Almighty God, who gave your Son Jesus Christ to break the power of evil: free us from all that darkens and ensnares us and bring us to eternal light and joy; through the power of him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. 1. We are Responsible (9.1) Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Devotional Reading: Think of some choices you make everyday. What to wear, what to eat, or what book to read. Now I am going to give you a choice. Which would you rather have, cream spinach or pizza? You would choose pizza every time wouldn't you? But the most important choice we face everyday is whether to love and obey God or to rebel against him and disobey him. In verse 19 of the passage we just read, Moses tells the people of Israel, "…choose life, that you … may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice…" Sadly, when presented with the choice between loving God and doing wrong, the Israelites continually chose to disobey. The same is true with everyone. Just like we would choose pizza over creamed spinach nearly every time, we choose to disobey God rather than obey him. What is important to realize is that God holds us responsible for our choices? Interaction and Reflection: Today we begin Part 4 of Big Beliefs! Part 4 will last seven weeks! Today is a good day to review what we have already covered. Part 1 was about (The Bible). Part 2 taught us about (God). In Part 3 we learned about (The Fall, God's Covenant, and Jesus Christ). This week we begin learning what the Bible has to teach us about Salvation. Name some choices you made today. Were any of them wrong? Why do you think you chose the wrong thing? How about asking God to help you obey him tomorrow? 2. The Effect of Sin (9.3, 9.4) Bible Reading: Matthew 13:10-17 Devotional Reading: Have you ever been around someone who spoke a different language? What language was it? When we meet someone who speaks a language we do not understand we are able to hear the words they say but we are not able to understand them. In a similar way, because of our rebellion against God, we are unable to understand and obey the Word of God. So, in some ways, God's Word is like a foreign language to us. When Jesus spoke the Word of God in parables, only those who were given the ability by God were able to understand what he meant and obey him. Parables revealed those who were chosen by God to be his people and also showed who were still in rebellion against him. The Bible teaches that sin has made it impossible for us to understand and obey God's Word. And we can do nothing by ourselves to help. God alone gives us new hearts and minds that are able to understand and obey him. Interaction and Reflection: What are some difficult things that you don't understand about God or his Word? Ask God to give you a heart that understands and obeys his Word. 3. The Effect of Grace (9.4, 9.5) Bible Reading: Psalm 25:1-15 Devotional Reading: What are some signs in nature that tell us that spring is near? The weather gets a little warmer, it rains a bit more, buds come out on trees and flowers and the birds start to come back. In our last devotional we said that sin has made it impossible for anyone to understand and obey God without his help. But what are the signs that God is at work helping us? Well, in this Psalm we read of several signs of God's grace. A sign that God is helping someone is that a person chooses to trust in God for help. Another sign is that a person asks God to teach them his Word and they begin to understand and obey it. A third sign is that a person asks God for forgiveness of their sins and for salvation. A fourth sign that God is at work changing a person is that they trust in the goodness and mercy of God alone. Another sign is that a person wants more and more to be near to God in a close relationship. There are many other signs of God's grace. Just like we can see the signs of spring in nature, we can see some signs of God helping people to understand and obey him.
Interaction and Reflection: What are some other signs of God's work in a person's life? What signs of God's grace do you see in your own life?
PART IV: SALVATION Lesson 2 Effectual Calling Prayer: Remember, O Lord, what you have wrought in us and not what we deserve; and, as you have called us to your service, make us worthy of our calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. 1. A Work of the Trinity (10.1) Bible Reading: Ephesians 1:3-14 Devotional Reading: Do you know how new houses are made? First, there is an architect who designs the house. The architect draws all the plans for a new house. Then there are contractors who actually build the house according to the plan of the architect. Finally, there are real estate agents who bring people to live in the new house. All of these people, the architect, the contractor and the agent work together to make houses for people. In a similar way God accomplishes our salvation. God the Father planned our salvation before he even made the world. God the Son, Jesus Christ, carried out the Father's plans and accomplished our salvation. Finally, God the Holy Spirit sought us out and applied salvation to us. There is one God, who is three persons, Father, Son, and Spirit, and all three work together to bring salvation to us. Salvation is God's work. We live in the house of God's salvation and all the glory for the house goes to God and not to us. Interaction and Reflection: If God determined from all eternity to save his people from sin, can anything stop him? What does the Bible's teaching on effectual calling tell you about who gets the glory for our salvation? 2. By Grace Alone (10.2) Bible Reading: Psalm 103 Devotional Reading: Can you think of something so amazing and so huge and so unique and so expensive that no one could afford it, earn it, or deserve it? It is hard to think of something isn't it? Well there is something that fits the description, and the Bible calls that thing 'grace'. Grace is one of the amazing qualities of God. By giving us of his grace, God abundantly and generously pours out upon us all his many blessings, his forgiveness, and his mercy, all through Jesus. No one deserves God's grace and no one can earn God's grace. In fact, God does not need to give anyone grace. So why does God give grace to people? Because he is a gracious God. Interaction and Reflection: Do you sometimes think that God's love for you is dependent on you becoming a good person first? Doesn't the fact that God sends his Spirit to help us make you want to give him thanks? Then do it! 3. A New Heart (10.1) Bible Reading: Ezekiel 36:22-32 Devotional Reading: I want you to think of a stone. What is a stone like? Is a stone easy to squeeze and form into another shape? Now think of play-dough. Play-dough is easy to squish, and shape into lots of different things. Well the Bible says that our hearts are naturally like stone. Stones are, pardon the expression, hard as a rock. We cannot change them, we cannot mold them into a heart like God's heart, and our hearts are set on rebelling against God. That is why the gospel is so powerful and so great. Because God gives us a new heart, a soft heart, a heart he shapes to be like his own, and a new heart that wants to obey God rather than rebel against him. We learned last time that God gave us grace because he is gracious. And one of the gifts of God's grace is a new heart. Our reading today gave two more reasons why God gives people a new heart. The first is so that he might be shown to be faithful to his promises. The second is so that all the people of the earth might know that he is the only true God. Only God can take sinful rebels with hearts of stone and turn them into obedient and loving people by giving them a new heart. Interaction and Reflection:
Can you remember what some of the signs were that God was at work in someone's heart? Does recalling those signs make you think that God is at work in your heart? Take a moment to pray, asking God for a new heart that is more and more like his.
PART IV: SALVATION Lesson 3 Justification Prayer: Almighty Father, who has given your only Son to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justification: grant us so perfectly, and without all doubt, to believe in his resurrection, that in your sight our faith may never be reproved; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. 1. Forgiveness of Sins (11.1, 11.5) Bible Reading: Psalm 32 Devotional Reading: Have you ever traded some food with a brother or sister at the dinner table? Maybe you said, "I will take your apple if you will take my broccoli." Something similar happened on the cross. When Jesus was on the cross, God took all your sin and gave it to Jesus, and God then took all Jesus' holiness and gave it to you when you received it by faith. So when Jesus died on the cross, your sin was paid for, because death is the payment for sin. So now God does not need to punish you; he is free to declare you justified. In the Psalm we read, the writer said that the knowledge that he was a sinner made him feel guilty and far from God. So what did he do? He confessed his sin to God and asked for forgiveness. And God was kind and forgave him. This is really important, because no one really asks for help if they don't think they are in danger. In the same way, before you can ask God for forgiveness you must know you are a sinner in rebellion against God. Interaction and Reflection: How would you define the term 'justification'? Does being forgiven of sin mean you will never sin again? If you do sin what should you do? 2. Only Faith in Christ Alone (11.1, 11.2, 11.3) Bible Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10 Devotional Reading: Have you seen the child's toy that involves putting different plastic shapes into the matching holes of a plastic ball? Each piece only fits through the hole that was made especially for it. It can be pretty funny to watch a child try to put a round piece through a square hole. What isn't funny, though, is seeing adults try to push their way into a relationship with God by using anything other than saving faith. Faith is the only piece that can save us from God's anger against our sin. Faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus is the only thing that pleases God. No other thing will fit; no other piece will work. If we want God to declare us justified, we will need faith. In our Bible reading today we saw just that. If we want to be saved, it will be by grace and through faith! Interaction and Reflection: Thank God for his grace that declares his people 'justified' (just-as-if-I'd never sinned and just-as-if-I'd kept the law). Which person of the Trinity moves us to take hold of Jesus by faith? (Note: It is the Holy Spirit! Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven—the Spirit is here with us.) 3. This Faith is Never Alone (11.2) Bible Reading: Judges 7:9-23 Devotional Reading: What does air look like? Nothing, because it is invisible. So how do you know air is actually all around if you can't see it? You can feel it blowing on your face and you can see it blowing the leaves of trees and things like that. So let me ask you this question: What does faith look like? Although faith is invisible like air, faith is also like air because you can see it working. In the story we read about Gideon we can see his faith in his actions. Faith is not merely saying we believe in God, but true faith lives for God as well. Also, just as with Gideon, faith comes from God and God strengthens our faith. How did God strengthen Gideon's faith? He gave a dream to a Midianite soldier and let Gideon hear it. Then Gideon obeyed God in the strength of his faith by defeating the Midianites. God is at work today as well strengthening our faith in him so that we might obey him.
Interaction and Reflection: Try illustrating faith by closing your eyes and letting someone catch you as you fall backwards. Can others see your faith? Think of some of the ways faith can be seen. (Note: submitting to God and other human authorities and suffering for the gospel are two great examples.)
PART IV: SALVATION Lesson 4 Adoption Prayer: Almighty God, in our baptism you adopted us for your own. Quicken, we pray, your Spirit within us, that we, being renewed in body and mind, may worship you in sincerity and truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. 1. A New Family (12.1) Bible Reading: Ruth 1:6-18 Devotional Reading: How do you know you are part of your family? Kind of a crazy question, but think about it. How do you know you are a part of your family? You have the same last name as your mom and dad, you live in their house and they take care of you. You may even look a little bit alike. Do you know anyone who has been adopted? Do you know what adoption is? Well, normally, a family will take a child who does not have a mother or a father and make them a real part of their family forever. The child will come and live in a new house, and have a new name and have a new father and mother. And the new father and mother promise to love and care for their new child. An adopted child has all the rights, responsibilities and privileges of a natural born child except they may not look like their new parents very much, similar to Ruth in the story we read. She said that she would be Naomi's daughter, and live with her and serve God with her. Well, did you know that everyone who believes in Jesus is adopted into his family? We can call God our Father, he promises to care for us, we live in a new family called the church, and we have a new name, Christian. Interaction and Reflection: Can you see the progressive logic the writers of the Confession used when teaching us what the Bible says about Salvation? They have moved us in Part 4 from Free Will to Effectual Calling to Justification. Now they take this week to tell us what is meant by Adoption into God's family. Take some time to thank God for adopting sinners into his family as sons and daughters. 2. A Loving Father (12.1) Bible Reading: I John 2:28-3:10 Devotional Reading: Have you ever noticed that children want to please their parents? Children naturally want the love and approval of their parents even though they may not always obey their parents or do what is right. All of this is so because children love their parents. The Bible teaches that God is our father and that children of God will want to please their heavenly father because they love him. Why do you think God's children love God? Well in the passage we read, our love for God came from his love for us. God loves us and has placed us into his family and promised us a new home in heaven. Because we know God's love and hope one day to be with him forever, we ought to do what pleases him while we live on earth. True children of God, although they will not always do what pleases their heavenly father, will want to live in a way that gives him great joy. Interaction and Reflection: What are some things that make our Father God really happy? Take a minute to read and pray the prayer for this week. 3. A Glorious Inheritance (12.1) Bible Reading: Psalm 23 Devotional Reading: What happens to someone's stuff, like cars, houses, boats, motorcycles, and computers when they die? Normally, if the person has children, they will leave all their stuff to their kids. The stuff they leave is called an inheritance. Now kids usually get to enjoy their parent's stuff even before they die. This week we have learned that God has adopted us into his family. As God's children we have an inheritance that we get to enjoy even while we live on the earth. The inheritance we now enjoy is described by two pictures of God in this Psalm— a shepherd and a host. A host is
someone who prepares a banquet table for others to enjoy. As our shepherd, God leads us, protects us, provides for us and gives us rest and peace. Because he is our Father, we can also trust that no matter what happens to us in life, God is caring for us according to his goodness and mercy. Finally, because we have been adopted into God's family forever, we know that when we die we will inherit eternal life— the greatest inheritance of all. Interaction and Reflection: Does being adopted into God's family mean Christians will never have difficulties or enemies? Look back at the Psalm for help. What do you think heaven will be like? Take time to think on the eternal inheritance God's children have.
PART IV: SALVATION Lesson 5 Sanctification Prayer: Almighty God, who alone can bring order to the unruly wills and passions of sinful men: Give us grace, to love what you command and to desire what you promise, that in all the changes and chances of this world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where lasting joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 1. The Battle Begins (13.1) Bible Reading: Psalm 51:1-13 Devotional Reading: Psalm 51 began on a rooftop. One spring, instead of being out in battle like other kings, King David was home. One day, David went for a walk on his flat rooftop. When he saw beautiful Bathsheba bathing nearby, he gave in to his lust and committed adultery with her. Later, after he was confronted with his sin, he wrote Psalm 51 as a prayer of repentance. This Psalm focuses on David's need to have God cleanse him from sin. Sanctification is the battle that Christians fight with sin. Even though we who believe on Jesus have the Holy Spirit, we also still live in our flesh. And so our flesh and the Spirit within us are at war! They fight within us. Interaction and Reflection: Today begins Week 5 of 7 on the topic of Salvation. Can you recall the four aspects of salvation we have already learned from the Westminster Confession of Faith? (Note: Free Will, Effectual Calling, Justification, and Adoption). How does David's attitude toward sin help us in our 'battle' of sanctification? 2. A Lifelong Battle (13.2, 13.3) Bible Reading: II Peter 1:3-11 Devotional Reading: I want you to think about doing yard work: things like mowing, raking, and weeding the garden. Have you ever had to do yard work? It can be tiring and difficult work. Often times, someone might say, "Can I be done yet?" What we sometimes forget as Christians is that the Christian life is often tiring and difficult work. Our last lesson introduced the idea that the Christian life is a battle. Today we take a look at the kind of hard work, energy and fighting it takes to overcome our flesh and pursue holiness. Peter tells us that it will require our 'every effort' (v. 5). It requires selfcontrol, steadfastness and godliness (v. 6). Many of us want the Christian life to be hard only for a little while and then to become easy. But biblical Christianity is diligent and hardworking. But remember, your hard work will result in a soul that looks like a well manicured yard! Interaction and Reflection: Do you ever feel like giving up in the battle of holiness? How should we help each other fight to overcome sin in our lives? 3. Growth in Grace (13.1, 13.3) Bible Reading: Jonah 1:17-2:10 Devotional Reading: When we are trying hard at something, we all like it when someone says, "Hey, you're getting much better at that! I see your progress." Well, the good news about sanctification is that we do make progress. The Confession says that those with a new heart, and a new spirit "are further sanctified, really and personally, through the virtue of Christ's
death and resurrection by his Word and Spirit dwelling in them: the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed…" Though Jonah lived long before Christ, it is clear that he also was in need of God's further work, and that his own corruption got the best of him. In chapter 1 (verse 3), Jonah intentionally ran in a different direction than God had told him. It took God appointing a fish to swallow him before Jonah was ready to call upon God in distress. This was God's way of perfecting holiness in the fear of God' in Jonah's life. Interaction and Reflection: How much do you think that you have grown spiritually these last months? These past 5 weeks have explained many exciting things about salvation. Next week we will see how God saves his people who were free only to sin—we will see the fruit of the Spirit's effectual calling—we will see what it is that gives us justification, adoption and sanctification. The answer will be Saving Faith.
PART IV: SALVATION Lesson 6 Saving Faith Prayer: Father of righteousness, Judge of all, in whose sight no one living can be justified but through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ: Give us such confidence in his love toward us that we may lay hold on his gift of salvation, and be delivered from the burden of our sins; through the same Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. 1. A Gift of God (14.1) Bible Reading: Psalm 22:1-11; Ephesians 2:8-9 Devotional Reading: Think about a young baby. What are some things that a baby can do? Not much! If they are very, very young, about the only thing a baby can do is eat and sleep. They are content to simply be held in their mother or father's arms. Yet listen to what David the Psalmist says here in verse 9 of Psalm 22, "You made me trust you at my mother's breasts"! What David is saying is amazing because it means that even when he was still being fed by his mother, God allowed David to trust in him. Faith for anyone is a gift, whether they are a young child or an adult. In Ephesians, Paul (like King David) also emphasizes that salvation and faith are gifts from God. However, Paul describes us as even more helpless than a baby when we receive salvation – he says we are "dead in our trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1). What both of these passages teach us is that saving faith is always a gift from God. It is trust in the wonderful death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sins. Interaction and Reflection: Certainly not every person has faith at the youngest of ages: can you remember a time when you did not have faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus? How easy is it for you to think of saving faith as a gift from God? 2. A Hand that Receives (14.2) Bible Reading: Genesis 12:1-9 Devotional Reading: I'd like to begin our devotional today by asking you a question: "What does it take to receive a gift?" The answer to this question will not be money. It won't be work either. In fact, it won't be anything that begins with you. The most important thing it takes to receive a gift is a Giver! Someone has to be giving a gift. And after that? All that is needed to receive a gift is an open hand. Isn't that what happened with God and Abraham? God was the Giver with some amazing gifts that he promised to Abraham. Abraham did not pay or work for the promises God gave to him. All he did was receive what God promised – like a little child who reaches his hands up to receive something from someone kind. What does it take to receive a gift? A giver and a hand that receives. So it is with salvation. God offers salvation to us. We simply receive his gift with faith like Abraham had. Interaction and Reflection: Would you rather receive a gift or work hard for something? Why? Spend a few minutes thanking God for open hands that are ready to receive the gift of saving faith. 3. Like a Mustard Seed (14.3) Bible Reading: Matthew 17:14-21 Devotional Reading:
Let's take a second to think of some things that are small and strong: firecrackers – because they have gunpowder in them. Ants – they can lift things that weigh much more than them. And mustard seeds – which are tiny, tiny seeds but grow into large plants. All three of these things are small and powerful. When Jesus talks to his disciples in this passage he chooses a mustard seed to teach them about faith. He wants them to know that even the smallest faith can accomplish something mighty. Why? Not because of faith – but because of God. This is a comfort to us! Our faith might not feel big or strong, but if we believe on Christ and his gospel then our faith is there. It is real. And even though it is weak or small, the One we have faith in is very, very powerful. Interaction and Reflection: How big is your faith? Tell me which question is more important: "How big is your faith?" or "In whom has your faith been placed?"
PART IV: SALVATION Lesson 7 Repentance Unto Life Prayer: Almighty and holy God, whose love reaches out even when you must condemn and whose mercy is shown to all who truly repent: Instill in us a new and contrite spirit that we may admit our guilt and receive from you forgiveness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 1. Hatred of Sin (15.2) Bible Reading: Genesis 39:6b-12 Devotional Reading: Is there someone that you would like to grow up to be like? How about Joseph? He is a great picture of a person who hated sin. He literally ran away from it, turning away from Potiphar's wife toward God. Can you picture that? Running from one thing and toward another? This is what repentance is: Repentance is turning away from sin and toward God. The writers of the Confession want us to know that the Bible teaches that when a person repents, they turn away from their sins not only because of the danger of God's judgment but also because they hate the filth of their sins. Repentance means even "grieving over" (15.2) those sins. The prophet Joel records God calling us to repentance: "Yet even now" declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments." (Joel 2:12-13) Repentance means hating sin as much as God does. Interaction and Reflection: The writers of the Confession want you to know that saving faith and repentance go side by side. One is always with the other. That is why repentance follows saving faith in Part 4 on Salvation. How much does God's heart hate sin? How much should we desire that our hearts are repentant? 2. Confessing our Sin (15.4, 15.5, 15.6) Bible Reading: Psalm 116 Devotional Reading: In our last devotional we talked about the first step in repentance, which is having hatred of our sin. Today we see the step of confessing our sin. David says that when he kept silent about his sin his bones 'wasted away' and his 'strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.' (Ps. 32: 3-4). It is not enough to hate sin; we must also confess our sin to God. Confession is that part of repentance where we describe to God the things that we have done wrong – and ask for forgiveness. The writers of the Confession make a few important points about confessing and repenting: First, that no sin is too small to confess since any sin deserves damnation (15.4). Second, that we ought to repent not just generally but of every particular sin that we can (15.5). Third, that we ought not only confess our sins to God and ask for forgiveness, but also to any person that we might have hurt or offended (15.6).
Interaction and Reflection: What are some of the things that keep you from confessing your sins to God? Shall we spend some time quietly confessing some of our sins to God? 3. Strengthening of Purpose (15.2) Bible Reading: II Timothy 2:1-13 Devotional Reading:
Today we come to the third step in repentance, which could be called 'strengthening our purpose.' First, we must hate sin; second, we must confess it; and third, we must decide to stay away from sin. Think about a soldier. What words describe a soldier to you? Disciplined; brave; devoted. Those are good words. Another word could be 'focused'. A soldier doesn't get tangled up in everyday things of life. He or she must stay away from those kinds of things to be ready for war at any time. Paul teaches that just as a soldier does not get tangled up in every day matters, you and I are to keep ourselves untangled from sin so that we can serve God. This is a very important part of repentance unto life – being strengthened in grace. Interaction and Reflection: Which is the hardest for you: 1) Hating sin, 2) Repenting of sin, 3) Confessing sin, 4) Staying away from sin? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you with this. Today we finished Part 4 of Big Beliefs! Are you able to recall the seven aspects of salvation that the writers of the Confession wanted you to learn from the Bible? (Note: free will, effectual calling, justification, adoption, sanctification, saving faith, and repentance.)
PART V: THE CHRISTIAN LIFE Lesson 1 Good Works Prayer: O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 1. Commanded by God (16.1, 16.2) Bible Reading: Matthew 5:13-16 Devotional Reading: Have you ever been in a thunderstorm when all of a sudden the lights went out? Maybe you had to scramble around the house to find a flashlight or even a candle. And when you found the candle you held it high and put it in the place where the light would help you see the best. Jesus says some amazing things in our reading for today. He says that Christians are the light of the world. They actually help other people see that God is real when they do good works. In fact, Jesus commands us to do our good works so that people will glorify God who is in heaven. Interaction and Reflection: • The writers of the Westminster Confession of Faith brought order to their thoughts. In Part 1, they covered The Bible. Part 2 was on God. Part 3 looked at The Fall, God's Covenant Promise, and Mankind. Part 4 was an extended look at Salvation. Here in Part 5 it makes sense that we look at Christian Life next. • Let's think hard for a minute: What are some of the good works that Jesus has in mind for us to do? 2. Evidence of True Faith (16.2, 16.3) Bible Reading: Psalm 26 Devotional Reading: Have you ever had the chance to pick berries or apples before? It is a fun thing to do! You get a container to place the fruit in and carefully choose fruit that seems ripe. Now here is a question: if you come to an apple or berry tree with no fruit and no green leaves, what do you know about it? Most likely it is dead! Our Confession and the Bible teach that our good works, like fruit, show whether our faith is dead or alive. If we say that we have faith, but no good works, James says that our faith is dead. And the Psalm we read today shows us the life of someone who is alive – someone who has evidence of true faith. What do they do? They walk in God's truth. Interaction and Reflection: Does your Christian life show how thankful you are to God that he saved you? How should it make us feel to know that we are 'created for good works'? (Ephesians 2:10) 3. All for the Glory of God (16.2, 16.7) Bible Reading: Exodus 19:1-6; 1 Peter 2:9 Devotional Reading: Have you ever collected things or saved something special? What was it? And why did you collect it? Wasn't it because it was something special to you – something you treasured? Now this may sound strange, but the very reason why God saves his people is because they are a 'treasure' to him. Exodus says that God's people were to be his 'treasured possession.' 1 Peter says that his people were saved as "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." Our lives and our good works really have one purpose – to bring pleasure and glory to God. Just like we talked about a few days ago – our lives are to shine, but they shine to give God glory. Interaction and Reflection: Is it easy or hard to believe that you are 'God's treasured possession'? How does knowing God wants to be glorified make you feel about doing good works?
PART V: THE CHRISTIAN LIFE Lesson 2 Perseverance of the Saints
Prayer: Almighty God, you have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you. Teach us to offer ourselves to your service, that here we may have your peace, and in the world to come may see you face to face, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 1. Grace is Strong (17.2) Bible Reading: Psalm 121 Devotional Reading: Have you ever fallen down? Of course you have! Did you get up? Of course! Everyone has stumbled at some point in their lives! But getting up and keeping on going is called perseverance. Imagine if we fell down and never got up. We just lay there! The writers of the Confession teach us this week that those who are called by God and sanctified by his spirit will always get up and keep going in the race of salvation. And better than that, Psalm 121 teaches that God is the one who helps us keep going. Let's take a minute to look at the passage and list some of the ways that it says about God's help to us: Our help comes from him…(v. 1) the maker of heaven and earth…He will not let our foot slip away (v. 3)…He is never asleep on the job (v. 4)…and, he will keep our lives (v. 7). Knowing how strong God's grace is helps us to remember that he is the one who gives us the strength to persevere. Interaction and Reflection: Does the Bible teach that all true Christians finish the race of salvation? What if they seem to have stopped running the race? What should we do if we stop? 2. God's Children will Endure (17.1) Bible Reading: Daniel 3 Devotional Reading: One of the amazing things about the people of God is what they will endure for him. Very often we hear in the news these days of Christians who endure great suffering and even death for God. And think about Hebrews chapter 11 and all the things that Christians endured to identify themselves with Christ (11:36-38). Some were tortured. Others were stoned, sawn in two or killed with the sword. Today in Daniel we read of the great endurance of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They endured the burning fiery furnace rather than worshiping the image of gold that Nebuchadnezzar had created. What do we learn from this? That God's children will endure! Those who are truly his children are willing to persevere through very difficult circumstances just like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Interaction and Reflection: How hard do you think it was for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to tell the King that they would not bow down to worship the image of gold? What helped them endure such difficulty? How might knowing this help you? 3. No Shrinking Faith (17.3) Bible Reading: Hebrews 10:32-39 Devotional Reading: Have you ever been so startled by something that the very sight of it caused you to shrink back from it in fear? People get startled by many things and shrink back: an animal that unexpectedly darts out in front of you, or even a person in your family who comes around the corner when you aren't ready for them. Interestingly, we can become afraid of things that aren't bad in and of themselves. In fact, we can suddenly find ourselves fearing something or someone who wants to help us. Did you know that God wants to help you? He wants to save you. Yet, the book of Hebrews teaches us an important lesson. We must endure and persevere so that we finish the race of salvation. We are not to shrink back! Listen again to what it says: "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." So, God has surprisingly appeared and done a wonderful thing for us in Jesus. Are you still running in faith? Or are you shrinking back? Interaction and Reflection: Use some words to describe how you plan to run the race that is set before you. (Hebrews 12:1-2) What do you think 'shrinking faith' looks like? Take a minute to pray the prayer for this week.
PART V: THE CHRISTIAN LIFE Lesson 3 Assurance of Grace and Salvation
Prayer: Lord God our Father, maker of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb to await the glory that should be revealed, so we may endure the darkness of this present time in sure confidence that we shall rise with him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 1. The Faithful can be Assured (18.1) Bible Reading: Romans 8:31-39 Devotional Reading: Once upon a time, on a hot summer day, three kids hiked in the mountains. They had read in a travel guide that a refreshing lake for swimming lay just over the distant ridge. But having never been there—and with some hard walking still ahead of them—and with the afternoon sun beating down on them, they began to wonder if the lake really existed. They had doubts. The Christian life can be like that too. Having read in the Bible that God will save from sin everyone who believes in Jesus, and hearing that heaven awaits us just over the ridge of this life, we set out in faith, but in the heat of life doubts emerge. There is good news for us in our Bible reading today. It speaks with great confidence about the eternal destination of the faithful. It says that nothing can "separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." This week's devotionals will give you two great ways that you can be assured that this is true. Interaction and Reflection: Do you find it comforting to learn that doubts are natural in Christian life? Why, why not? Did you know that through prayer and the work of God you can gain assurance from doubts? 2. God Keeps his Promises (18.2) Bible Reading: Joshua 1:1-9 Devotional Reading: Suzy was just a little frightened as she stood in her kitchen that fall morning. Her family had moved to a new city and today was the first day of school. On top of this Suzy would be riding the bus for the first time. Her father knelt down on the kitchen floor and said. "Suzy, I know you are a bit scared, but don't be afraid. I am not asking you to do something that I have not already scouted out ahead of time. Your bus driver's name is Mr. Cartwright and your teacher's name is Ms. Dickinson. And both of them are looking forward to meeting you. So remember, I have already gone before you. I am with you in this new adventure. O.K.?" Listening to her father's words gave Suzy some assurance that everything would be all right. And so it was with Joshua too! God's words were all the assurance he needed to go into the promised land. Trusting in God's Word can give you assurance of entering into heaven. His word is true! Believing in the truthfulness of God's Word is the first way to gain assurance of salvation. Interaction and Reflection: Does assurance come from trying to conjure up confidence from within or by reading God's words? Take time to thank God for the many promises he made to his children in the Bible. 3. The Holy Spirit Helps Us (18.3, 18.4) Bible Reading: Psalm 143 Devotional Reading: Sometimes we wake up in the middle of the night. That can be a bit unnerving can't it? The room is dark, the house or apartment we live in is really quiet, and the sunrise of tomorrow seems like a long way off. In our own funny way our minds can almost trick us into thinking a new day won't come at all. Did you know that we experience the same kind of funny thoughts in our spiritual life too? It's true. We all do. The Psalmist in our reading today had those same silly thoughts. He needed God's help because his confidence that God was with him was shaken. He said that he felt that God "has made me sit in darkness" (v. 3). But then he prayed, "Let your good Spirit lead me…" (v. 10). We should do the same thing when our minds begin to think that God's promises aren't true. We should call upon his Spirit to lead us. The Holy Spirit is the second way God gives us assurance of our salvation. God put his Spirit in us and it is his Spirit that reassures us in times of doubt. Interaction and Reflection: The writers of the Confession want us to know that the Bible teaches that God's Spirit is ultimately the One who confirms the work of God in our hearts. Take a minute to thank god for the Holy Spirit. Can you name the two great ways God helps us overcome our doubts and fears? (Note: Through his Word and his Spirit.)
PART V: THE CHRISTIAN LIFE Lesson 4
The Law of God Prayer: Almighty Lord and everlasting God, we ask you to direct, sanctify, and govern both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of your laws, and in the works of your commandments; that through your most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 1. God's Will for All (19.2, 19.5, 19.6) Bible Reading: Psalm 1 Devotional Reading: Sometimes someone asks a question to get conversation started. Today, I have just such a question: "What do you want out of life?" A host of good answers are out there: a long life, a healthy life, a life with expanding opportunities, even a happy life. These are all good answers, but did you know that today's Bible reading gives us an answer strong enough to include all of these things? It was the word 'Blessed'. Blessed means 'approved by God'! Imagine—at the end of life God calling you 'blessed'—approved—worthy to stand in his presence after the final judgment. If that happened you would get a long life, a healthy life, a life filled with eternal opportunity and happiness. But did you hear what kind of person gets this out of life? The one who "delights in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night." God kindly gave us his law to read and obey. It helps you get the most out of this life…and the next! Interaction and Reflection: Do you find it interesting that the writers of the Confession decided to place their thoughts on the law of God in the Part on Christian Life rather than Salvation? What does this teach you? God gave Israel his Law after he rescued them as his people. Thank God that his Law is his gracious Word to his people. 2. The Blessed Life (19.6) Bible Reading: Exodus 24:1-11 and Matthew 5:17-19 Devotional Reading: I want to ask you two crazy questions: Can you walk along a path that isn't really there? Can you listen to your parent read you a book that hasn't even been written yet? The answer to these questions is "No", isn't it? Doing the one thing requires the other thing doesn't it? And so it is with living the 'blessed' life God intended for us. We can only walk with God if he shows us the way. And we can only listen to his voice through what he has written to us in his book. In our first Bible reading today we learned that God spoke his words to Israel after he rescued them from Egypt. They needed his words if they were to be his people in the world. In our second reading, Jesus warns his followers not to think that they can be his disciples if they forget to follow God's law. The same is true for us. If we want to live a life that is 'blessed'—'approved by God'—then we will pay close attention to God's written word. Interaction and Reflection: Why do you think some people think they can follow Jesus without paying much attention to reading, understanding, and obeying the words of the law? How much time each day do you think is appropriate for us to read God's Word? 3.
What God Requires, He Provides (19.7) Bible Reading: Hebrews 4:11-16
Devotional Reading: Have you ever received a game, say on your birthday or at Christmas, that required batteries? Did the batteries come with it? It can be a maddening experience to have a present that was intended to bring you great joy go unused because someone forgot to include the power needed to run it. Well, did you know that God would never think of giving his children the great gift of salvation without including the power to obey his Son and his Word? The law of God, which God gave you to live an approved life, comes with the power pack necessary to live it out with great joy! God includes the battery of his Holy Spirit to make you not only desire to obey God's word, but to hold it, cherish it, and live it out with great joy! What a great truth! God provides us with everything we need to be his people! He gives us his Law, his Son, and his Spirit. Interaction and Reflection: Legalism believes we obey God's Word in order to win God's blessing. Discuss the difference between that person and the one who obeys God's Word because they have been given his Spirit. Take a minute to pray the prayer for this week.
PART V: THE CHRISTIAN LIFE Lesson 5 Christian Liberty Prayer: Almighty God, you have broken the tyranny of sin and sent into our hearts the Spirit of your Son. Give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service, that all people may know the glorious liberty of the children of God; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 1.
Freedom from Fear (20.1, 20.2) Bible Reading: Psalm 27
Devotional Reading: If there is one person who strikes fear into our heart on the school playground it is the neighborhood bully. Bullies try to intimidate us, don't they? Just because they are bigger and stronger they think they have control over us. However, if there is one person who takes our fears away it is someone who protects us from the bully—as if he were our own big brother. With them around we are free to play and enjoy everything around us. Now, did you hear what the Psalmist said in our Bible reading today? He said, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear…of whom shall I be afraid?" (v. 1). There was no fear in his heart anymore! He knew that someone bigger than a bully was protecting him. And so it is with us. Jesus protects us. We don't need to live in fear any more. Even though we disobeyed God's law and Satan would like to bully us around for it, he no longer controls us. In Christ, we are free to live life to the fullest—to celebrate it and enjoy it! Interaction and Reflection: How are our affections for God strengthened by knowing that in Christ we have been freed from the tyranny of trying to do enough good on earth to get to heaven? If Christians are free from the wrath of God in Christ, should we be afraid of Satan anymore? Why? Why not? 2.
Freedom to Serve God (20.1, 20.3) Bible Reading: Exodus 19:1, 4-6; 20:1-17
Devotional Reading: Imagine a man, serving time in jail for his inability to pay off a debt, being set free by another who paid it for him. What a happy day for the freed man! I bet he would do anything for the one who paid his debt. Well, God set Israel free after 400 years of slavery in Egypt. God paid the debt they could not pay with the blood of the Passover Lamb. And after he set them free, God gave them his Word, which told them how to live as his free people. They had been set free from slavery in order to live as God's people. And so it is with us. We have been set free from sin, not that we should now do anything we please, but in order that we might serve the One who freed us. And how do we do that? By listening to and obeying God's Word—by serving Jesus who paid our debt. Interaction and Reflection: Does a Christian's freedom in Christ mean that they can do anything they want? How should we treat our newfound freedom? 3. Freedom to Serve Others (20.4) Bible Reading: Luke 20:19-26 Devotional Reading: Have you noticed that in every class there seems to be at least one student who tries to get out of following the rules? If the teacher in charge asks the people in class to sit up straight in their chairs, this student decides to slouch down. If the principal requests that no student chew bubble gum then this student comes to school with a brand new pack of gum. Sadly, did you know that what is true of that one student is generally true of us all? Did you notice how the people in our Bible reading today tried to trick Jesus into not submitting to Caesar? It was like they were saying that if we serve God, then we don't have to submit to others who are not following him. Well, Jesus didn't fall for their little trick and neither should we. Being set free from sin by Christ's death and resurrection doesn't mean we are free to disobey lesser authorities. Far from it. Having saved us from sin, we are free not only to serve God with our whole heart, but to submit to lesser human authorities too. Interaction and Reflection: Explain how submitting to human authorities is an evidence of true freedom?
Can you recall the five things the writers of the Confession have wanted us to learn so far about the Bible's teaching on the Christian Life? (Note: Good Works, Perseverance, Assurance, Law, and Liberty).
PART V: THE CHRISTIAN LIFE Lesson 6 Religious Worship and the Sabbath Prayer: O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 1. God Cares How We Worship Him (21.1, 21.3, 21.4, 21.5) Bible Reading: Genesis 4:1-7 Devotional Reading: Two brothers were playing in their bedroom when their father called up from the bottom of the stairs, "Boys, I need each of you to bring me one more clean pair of socks for the suitcase." It was almost Thanksgiving and Mom and Dad were busy packing the last bit of clothes for the trip to Grandma's house for the holiday. The boys hollered back in unison, "Sure thing Dad." One of the brothers went to his dresser and grabbed a clean pair of socks from the drawer. The other one saw some dirty socks from yesterday still lying on the floor and grabbed those instead. "Hey, you heard what Dad said", said the one, "Bring a clean pair". " I don't care what Dad said," replied the other, "It won't matter." Now tell me, do you think the father will be pleased with both boys bring him? In the same way our Heavenly Father is only pleased when we worship him as he asked us to. Cain and Abel found that out in our Bible reading today, didn't they? God gave us the Bible to show us how to worship him. Interaction and Reflection: Do you know what the difference was between Cain and Abel's offering? (Note: The New Testament book of Hebrews (11:4) gives us the answer: faith. Faith is belief in God's Word. Cain must have thought that it didn't matter to God how he worshiped God as long as he brought something). How must we worship God in faith? 2. Only Christian Worship is Acceptable (21.2) Bible Reading: Revelation 5 Devotional Reading: Each year people who make big-screen movies hand out awards to individuals who do an especially good job. While a number of people are nominated for a particular award, only one lucky person wins. The fun part is watching an announcer open the envelope with the winner's name on it. After peeling back the sealed envelope they say, "And the winner is…". Today we read about a different awards ceremony. A sealed scroll needed to be opened. Yet this scroll held bigger news than a winner at the movies. This scroll, once opened would let loose seven specific acts of God's judgment against the world for sin. This scroll couldn't be opened by just anyone—it had to be opened by someone who could rightly unleash God's judgment on an unbelieving world. At first it looked like no one was worthy for such an assignment—until the Lamb of God, Jesus, stepped forward. He alone is worthy to execute God's will. Not you. Not me. Not any other living person. Not angels, or even godly people who died in ages past. Therefore, since Jesus is the only person worthy, he is the only one we are to worship. God will not accept worship that comes to him in any name. So far this week we've learned two important things about worship. First, God cares how we worship him: we are to worship him in faith; and second, God has told us through whom we come to him in faith, through faith in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who alone is worthy. Interaction and Reflection: Who is the only son of man worthy of receiving our praise and worship? Since Jesus is Lord of all human history, is our worship of God intended for all of our life or just certain times and days? 3. God's Weekly Gift (21.7, 21.8) Bible Reading: Psalm 84 Devotional Reading: Many kids collect trading cards of baseball, basketball, and football players. Some even collect cards of beanie babies and other fun things. Do you collect trading cards of any kind? Isn't it fun to trade cards with other kids? You can get rid of cards that you have doubles of as well as trade for cards that you really want. Well, this week we have been
learning about worship, and we just read that the Psalmist would gladly trade 1000 days of being anywhere in the world for a single day spent in the presence of God! That is like trading 1000 cards for the one card you really want! That is how much he wanted to spend time with God. Well, did you know that God already gave you one day out of every seven to spend entirely with him? Sunday is the Lord's Day. It is the day we should worship God and put other things away. Isn't it sad that most of us forget how good it is to be with God and would gladly trade even that one day in seven to do lesser things? Interaction and Reflection: What are some of the sad things we trade worship for on Sunday? What do you think would happen if every Christian took their Sunday worship seriously?
PART V: THE CHRISTIAN LIFE Lesson 7 Oaths and Vows Prayer: Almighty God, who has given your Son Jesus Christ the Name which is above every name, and has taught us that there is none other whereby we may be saved: Grant that rejoicing in his Name we may ever strive to proclaim it to all people; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. 1.
There are Occasions for Oaths and Vows (22.1, 22.2, 22.3) Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
Devotional Reading: Have you ever had this experience: Suddenly a great idea jumps into your mind about doing something nice for someone you love? Perhaps you wanted to write them a card or paint a picture just for them. The same thing happens after spending time with God. Suddenly, we find ourselves wanting to do something especially for him…or we find that our mind is filled with something that we feel he really wants us to do. Well, our Bible reading today teaches us that while there will be times we feel like this, we should only promise to do it after really taking the idea to heart. God is happy when we promise to do something for him. That promise is called a vow. But be careful! Don't make promises on the strength of your own name, or the name of earth, or even heaven. Make them by the name of God alone, for he alone is able to help you fulfill them (Dt. 10:20; Mt. 5:33-34). Make sure that before you promise to do something in God's name you are sure you should do this and that in faith he wants you do. Don't take your promises to God lightly. Interaction and Reflection: This week the writers of the Confession want us to see the importance of keeping our word. Why is this so essential to our Christian Life? Do you think other kids at school understand the importance of being a person who keeps their word? 2.
Guard Your Vows (22.3, 22.4) Bible Reading: Acts 18:18
Devotional Reading: Has someone ever told you something that had you scratching your head afterward and saying something like, "That's it? You must be kidding me!" Perhaps you feel a bit like that after hearing the Bible reading for today. Normally, we don't read just one verse like this without much context. But this verse does have something to teach us about making vows. The Apostle Paul made a vow. He cut his hair as a sign of what he promised before God. Paul was keeping his word. You and I need to learn to be promise keepers too. If your word is not good, then people won't be able to trust much of what you say. Keeping our promises to God is one of the most important things we can do to help people understand that our God is a promise keeping God. Interaction and Reflection: Do you think it is wise to makes lots of promises to people? Why, or, why not? Why do you think we have such a problem keeping our word? Does God? 3.
Keep Your Vows (22.5, 22.6, 22.7) Bible Reading: Psalm 15
Devotional Reading: Summer was coming and Al really wanted to go to camp with his friends. His parents told him he could go if he kept his room clean for a month—bed made each morning and everything! Well, Al promised to do just that. A few days
later, Al was playing with 143 match box race cars all over his bedroom floor. The phone rang. Al's friend was calling from his mom's cell phone. "Hi Al, we are in a big hurry but I just wondered if you wanted to come with us to get ice-cream. Can you be ready in one minute?" Boy, did Al want to go! But he also knew he would have to clean up his 143 cars and there wasn't time to do both. "Thanks, but I can't come this time," said Al. "I've got other commitments that I already made." Al kept his word to his parents and later that summer he received his reward. The Psalmist today told us who gets the reward of dwelling with God. It is the one who speaks truthfully (v. 2) even when keeping his promise means missing out on things (v. 4). Be a person who keeps your commitments to God in Christ. One day you will get your reward! Interaction and Reflection: Can you think of a time when keeping your word was hard? How important is God's promise of dwelling with him to you? Is that promise a good motivator to keep your word now?
PART V: THE CHRISTIAN LIFE Lesson 8 Government Prayer: O God, who by a star didst guide the Wise Men to the worship of thy Son: Lead, we pray thee, to thyself the wise and the great in every land, that unto thee every knee may bow, and every thought be brought into captivity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 1. Established by God (23.1) Bible Reading: Romans 13:1-7 Devotional Reading: Tyrone and Jasmine were arguing over the remote control for the television. Tyler, their babysitter, heard them from the next room. She came into the room and said, "I'm sorry guys, but you will have to turn the TV off now and find something else to do." One of the kids looked up and said, "Do we really have too?" "Yes," replied Tyler, "your parents left me in charge and they told me that if you argued over the TV you would have to turn it off." The kids obeyed the babysitter right away. Babysitters don't always have an easy job do they? They are in a unique position. They are charged to watch over children while serving under parents. The same is true for authorities in government. They don't have an easy job. But God established their role for the good of all people. Government is charged by God serve over people and under God. You and I should carefully fulfill our duty to live under the government in a way that pleases God, all the while praying for those whom God has put in authority over us (1 Timothy 2:1-4) that they might be careful to govern us under God's righteous and just rule. Interaction and Reflection: This week we will be learning about another aspect of Christian Life: our relationship to human government. Can you mention forms of government that are local, state, and national? God asks us to pray for the people in government who serve over us. Take a minute to do that now. 2. A Noble Calling (23.2, 23.3) Bible Reading: Daniel 2:1, 16-24, 46-49 Devotional Reading: Have you ever done a jig-saw puzzle? Imagine completing just such a puzzle only to find out at the end that some pieces are missing! That would be a little frustrating wouldn't it? Well, I don't want you to be frustrated by our Bible reading today so let me fill in the missing pieces. King Neb had a dream. He dreamt of a great image—a giant figure that looked like a mighty ruler. Its head was made of gold, its middle and thighs of bronze, and its feet partly of iron and clay. There was only one problem—King Neb didn't know what the dream meant. Then God showed Daniel the dream and what it meant. Daniel told the king that God was the one who removes kings and sets them up in authority. He told King Neb that he was the head but that after him would come other kingdoms…until God set up his own kingdom that would never end. This made the king very happy and he put Daniel and his three friends in charge of his government. What a good thing for the people of that day to have god-fearing people like Daniel and his friends working in government. What a good thing for us when Christians serve God today in this way too. Interaction and Reflection: In a democracy like the United States, everyone, regardless of their religious beliefs, can serve in government. How might Christians do this as unto the Lord?
Name some wonderful ways Christians in government can serve everyone in this country.
3. The Purpose to which all history and government is moving (23.1) Bible Reading: Psalm 2 Devotional Reading: Tug of war is a fun game to play with lots of people. Are you familiar with it? Two groups grab hold of one end of the rope and try to exert their strength in pulling the other group over the line. It is a test to see who is stronger. Well, in our Bible reading today we saw what turned out to be a humorous tug of war. The nations were on one side of the rope trying to govern the world for their own glory; they pulled with all their strength in an effort to overthrow God and his king. Yet God was on the other side of the rope just laughing. God toyed with the nations and set up Jesus as his supreme ruler. He did it by having Jesus die on his holy hill on the cross. Therefore, every human authority, every nation, every ruler and king would do well to live under the rule of Jesus unless they want to be punished later. Interaction and Reflection: In our Bible reading today we learned that human governments are not the final authority in human history. How does this affect your understanding of history? How would you encourage government to consider that its role is to serve under God?
PART V: THE CHRISTIAN LIFE Lesson 9 Marriage Prayer: O God, who moves in love unceasing, and gives to each man his appointed work: Help us steadfastly, and as in your sight, to fulfill the duties of our calling; that when our Lord shall take account of us, we may be found faithful in that which is least, and enter into his eternal joy. 1. One Man and One Woman in the Lord (24.1, 24.3) Bible Reading: Mark 10:1-9 Devotional Reading: Are you old enough to have taken a test in school? Tests enable teachers to measure what we know about a subject. And every teacher wants her students to do well on a test. Well, imagine taking a test for teachers who wanted you to fail! Wouldn't that be terrible? Yet that is precisely what happened to Jesus. The Bible teachers gave him a test on marriage and they were hoping he would fail. They thought that if they could get Jesus to contradict the great teacher Moses, perhaps the crowds would stop listening to him and pay attention to them again. Jesus didn't fail their evil test! His answer teaches us three important things about marriage. First, when God created people, he created us male and female—when God made you a boy or girl he knew exactly what he was doing. Second, what God created is what God intended to be joined in marriage—from the beginning, it was God's plan that men would marry women and women marry men—it was never God's intention for men to marry men, or women to marry women. Third, whenever a man takes a woman to be his wife it should be for life—we should be very careful to do all we can not to separate what God joined together. Interaction and Reflection: This week on marriage ends the Confession's eight weeks on Christian Life. Can you recall the other seven topics? (Note: Good Works, Perseverance, Assurance, Law, Liberty, Oaths, and Government.) Can you state in your own words the three things we learned today that teach us that marriage should be reserved for one man and one woman? (Note: 1. When God created man he made them male and female. 2. What God created is what God intended to be joined in marriage. 3. What God intended to be joined, a male and female, he does not want to be separated. This is how Jesus interprets the Hebrew Scriptures (see Matthew 19). 2. A Blessed Gift (24.2) Bible Reading: Psalm 128 Devotional Reading: When you grow up I can promise you one thing for sure—your life will get really busy! And do you know what happens to grown-ups who get too busy? Sometimes they forget things or take people for granted. In busy times, the Psalm that we just read is a great reminder for married people who are too busy. It teaches them what is really important in life—having God's blessing. I don't want you to miss one of God's gifts—God's blessings—it is right their in verse 3. A man who has a wife is blessed by God. It says in verse 4, "Thus shall a man be blessed." Marriage is a huge blessing! A great gift. When God gives a man a wife he has given him a relationship to be envied. Now
that doesn't mean that every Christian man must have a wife and children to be blessed by God. But for those who do—they should slow down and count their special blessings! Marriage is a gift and we ought to help those who are married to cherish it with their whole heart. Interaction and Reflection: Name some reasons why the Bible would consider marriage to be a gift from God? How can you help those who are married cherish it as a gift from God? 3. The Tragedy of Unfaithfulness (24.5, 24.6) Bible Reading: Proverbs 6:20-35 Devotional Reading: Liza yelled, "Ready or not, here I come!!" as she pulled her hands away from her eyes. Then she raced off in every direction looking for her friends who were hiding. Do you enjoy playing hide and seek? It's fun, isn't it? Can you tell me why the person who is 'it' yells, "Ready or not here I come!!"? Those words warn the others that the game is underway don't they? Well, our Bible reading today functions in a similar way. God is yelling to us, "O.K. I've given you a fair warning! The game is for real now!" God's voice is calling out to men and warning them about only having one woman for a wife. And if you are a young boy or girl I hope you listen to these words. Be very careful how you treat people. Respect them. Respect your own body too. Marriage is a holy relationship and should be kept pure. And remember, God can see us; God called out to us; one day God will seek us out whether we are ready or not. Interaction and Reflection: Do you normally think of warnings as a good thing or a bad thing? Why, or why not? Why do you think King David taught Solomon things about marriage when he was just a young boy (see Proverbs 4)? Knowing how Solomon does in this area as a man, does hearing the word as a kid mean you will follow it as an adult? What steps can you take to be a follower of God's Word?
PART VI: THE CHURCH Lesson 1 The Church Prayer: O God who has united men of every nation in the confession of your Name, and does continually multiply thy church with new offspring: Grant that those who have been born again of water and of the Spirit may be one both in inward faith and in outward devotion, and with thankful hearts may show forth in their lives the grace of that Sacrament which they have received; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 1. One Body, One Head (25.1, 25.2) Bible Reading: I Peter 2:1-10 Devotional Reading: If you were asked to describe "the church", what word pictures would you use? The Bible uses the image of a body to describe the church. We are part of the same body, and Jesus is the head of the body. We belong to the same body as Christians around the world and throughout history. We belong to the same body as Perpetua, a woman who was martyred for her faith in north Africa in the year 203; the same body as the Roman emperor Constantine, who became a Christian around the year 337 and forever changed the course of history; the same body as Johann Sebastian Bach, a German musician who composed countless pieces of beautiful music for the glory of God; the same body as Pentecostal Christians in South Korea; the same body as Catholic Christians in Poland; and the same body as Christians in Sudan who today are persecuted for their faith. We belong to the same body, and serve the same Lord, Jesus Christ. Interaction and Reflection: This week we begin Part 6 of Big Beliefs! Try to recall the first 5 parts. (Note: The Bible; God; The Fall, God's Covenant and Mankind; Salvation; and Christian Life.) Can you name some other people, past or present, around the world or across the street, who are part of this body known as the church? 2. The Family of God (25.2) Bible Reading: Psalm 87 Devotional Reading: In addition to the human body, another image that the Bible uses to describe the church is a family. God is our father, and other Christians are our brothers and sisters. Have you ever thought, "what is it that makes me part of my family?" There are actually two ways that someone can become part of a family. One is to be born into a family, and the other is to be adopted into a family. Either way, you are just as much a part of your family whether you were born or adopted into it. Do you know how we become part of God's family? The Bible tells us that when it comes to God's family, we are born ("born again") and adopted into it. In this way God's family is unlike any other. It is as if God wanted our relationship to his family to be twice as strong as our regular family. So whether you were born or adopted into your regular family, each of us can say that we have been born into a family, and adopted into a family—God's family. Interaction and Reflection: So far we have learned two ways that the Bible speaks of the church. What are they? (Note: The church is called a body and a family. Take a minute to pray the prayer provided above. 3. The Way of Grace (25.3) Bible Reading: II Chronicles 6:40-7:3 Devotional Reading: Imagine yourself on an island full of people. There is a plague on the island that has infected everyone, and there is no medicine on the island to cure the plague. The only way to receive a cure is to leave the island to get to a place with the right medicine. There are no airplanes, but there is a ship large enough for everyone that is leaving to take people to help. Would you be thankful for the ship? Would you climb aboard, or would you look for another way? Several weeks ago, when we talked about God's covenant with mankind (Week 7), we compared the church to a journey towards a final destination, and the final destination to God's grace in Jesus Christ. Likewise, in the illustration of the boat and the island, the boat is like the church. It is the way that God has chosen to bring sinners together through his grace. Our passage today from the Old Testament described the glory of the Lord filling the temple. Since Jesus was the fulfillment of the temple, and the church is the body of Christ, the church is therefore where the glory of the Lord abides.
Interaction and Reflection: St. Augustine once said something to the effect of "There is no salvation outside the church." What do you think he meant by this? Why is the church the only "ship" that can take us to safety?
PART VI: THE CHURCH Lesson 2 The Communion of Saints Prayer: Almighty and eternal God, you have called us to be your people: Bring us to closer unity and fellowship with you and one another so that every member of your church may serve you in holiness and truth; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 1. United with Christ (26.1) Bible Reading: Hebrews 2:10-18 Devotional Reading: Have you ever visited the White House in Washington, D.C.? That is where the President of the United States and his family live. If you plan carefully, you can take a tour of part of the White House, along with other visitors. There are many places in the building where visitors are not allowed. But what if you knew the President personally? You might be invited to visit the White House, and you could see the parts that ordinary visitors are not allowed to see. The President could just say, "they're with me," and you could go wherever the President took you. As Christians who are part of the church, you and I are part of the "communion of saints." In part, this means that we have access to everything that Jesus Christ has provided for us, because we are united with him. When Jesus says, "they're with me," that is greater even than being friends with the President. Interaction and Reflection: Last week we learned what the church is called (body and family) as well as its importance. This week we learn who the church is! It's not the building where we meet, is it? Tell me, who makes up the church? Take a minute to pray the prayer provided above. 2. United with One Another (26.1) Bible Reading: Psalm 133 Devotional Reading: Have you ever heard of the World Wide Web? It is abbreviated "www," and if you use a computer to use the internet, chances are you have been on the World Wide Web. It is a way for people all over the world to communicate and exchange information with each other by the click of a button. The World Wide Web was only invented a few years ago, and it has changed the way people live and work in ways that no one could have imagined. But the idea of a worldwide community of people is not new; it was what God had in mind ever since he created his family, what we now call the church. The church is a "communion of saints," and that means that all Christians have a relationship with each other, because we are part of the same family and the same body. As part of the communion of saints, we share in other Christians' sorrow, pain, happiness, and success, and we share our love and devotion to our one Lord, Jesus Christ. Interaction and Reflection: Can you think of someone in the communion of saints who may need encouragement or help? What practical thing can you do this week to edify that person? Do it today! 3. For the Good of the Body (26.2) Bible Reading: Exodus 35:20-29 Devotional Reading: You probably do not think about it very often, but each and every part of your body plays an important role in the health and operation of your whole body. Most of your body parts work without you even thinking about it, or even when you are sleeping. In fact, it is when a part of your body is sick or injured that you realize just how much you need it. Over the past two weeks we have talked about the church and the communion of saints as a body and as a family. In the communion of saints that is the church, each person is an important part of the body, no matter if it is an elderly person or an infant, a single parent or a teenager. Every Christian is important to the rest of the family, and has
something to contribute to the health and benefit of others. This means that we should appreciate our own part in the body of Christ, but it also means that we should appreciate the part others play in the body. Interaction and Reflection: Who are some people in the church that you are thankful for? Why are you thankful for them? Why do some parts of the body get more attention than others? Is that wrong? Why, or why not?
PART VI: THE CHURCH Lesson 3 The Sacraments Prayer: O Lord Jesus Christ, who has ordained the signs whereby we are assured of your gracious work in us: Grant that, being born anew of water and the Spirit, we may by faith receive thy precious Body and Blood, and, in union with thee, offer ourselves a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to the Father, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. 1. Christ and His Benefits (27.1, 27.4) Bible Reading: I Corinthians 10:1-6 Devotional Reading: Sacrament. That is a big word, and a word that you may not hear very often. A sacrament is an action of God, which we are able to see, that God uses to give us his grace. It is a specific way, within the church, that God brings us to the "final destination" of everything that Jesus provided for us when he died, rose again, and ascended to heaven, such as: our being adopted into and born again into God's family, the forgiveness of our sins, our growth in the grace of God, and the promise of eternal life. There are two sacraments that Jesus commanded in the New Testament: baptism and the Lord's supper. We will talk more about them in the coming weeks. Our passage for today is important because it uses the language of baptism and the Lord's supper ("eating and drinking") to show us that we, like the Israelites of old, truly receive God's grace through Jesus in the sacraments. Interaction and Reflection: This week the writers of the Confession want us to see a third important truth from the Bible about the church. The church has been given two sacraments: How would you define the word sacrament? Take a minute to pray the prayer provided above. 2. More than Meets the Eye (27.2) Bible Reading: Psalm 105:37-45 Devotional Reading: There is a little boy who receives letters from his grandmother, and at the end of each letter, she writes OXOXOX. Do you know what that means? The O's are hugs, and the X's are kisses. These are signals that let the boy know that his grandmother is hugging and kissing him, even though he can not see her. The word "sacrament" literally means "mystery." This word was used to describe baptism and the Lord's supper because in those actions, God—who is invisible—is doing things that cannot be fully seen by the eye, and so people called this a "mystery," a sacrament. Today's passage from Ps. 105 talks about the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, including when they drank water from a rock. They did not realize it at the time, but in our last passage the apostle Paul said that they were drinking from a spiritual rock, Jesus. In baptism and the Lord's supper, God uses regular things like water, bread, wine, and the words and actions of the pastor, as signals that he is doing wonderful things beyond our ability to see. Interaction and Reflection: What are some other signals we use in everyday life to indicate that something bigger is happening? How should we treat the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper knowing that God is at work in them? (Note: reverence, self-examination, thankfulness, joy). 3. The Holy Spirit at Work (27.3) Bible Reading: John 3:1-8 Devotional Reading: Many people today think that unless something can be explained in a natural way, or in a scientific way, it cannot be true. When God does his work in the sacraments, it cannot be explained naturally, because it is not a natural thing— we say that it is "supernatural." When you take a bath or shower, the water and soap washes away the dirt and makes your body clean. This is what water naturally does. But when we are baptized, the Holy Spirit does something with
the water that an ordinary bath does not do. It is supernatural. In the same way, when you eat a meal, the food and drink strengthens your body and makes you grow. This is what food and drink naturally do. But when we eat and drink at the Lord's supper, the Holy Spirit does things that ordinary food and drink cannot do. In the next two weeks, we will take a closer look at these two sacraments, baptism and the Lord's supper. Interaction and Reflection: Name some other things that God has done, in the Bible or not, that are "supernatural." This week we have concentrated on the sacraments. The next two weeks we will look at the sacrament of baptism and the Lord's Supper individually. Take a minute to thank God for these sacraments.
PART VI: THE CHURCH Lesson 4 Baptism Prayer: Almighty God, through the waters of baptism your Son has made us children of light. May we ever walk in his light and show forth your glory in the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 1. Entry into the Family (28.1, 28.2, 28.4, 28.7) Bible Reading: Matthew 28:16-20 Devotional Reading: A few weeks ago we talked about how a person becomes part of a family. Do you remember the two ways we discussed? One way is by being born into a family; the other is through adoption. When it comes to God's family, the church, we are born and adopted into it. Our Scripture passage today contains the last words that Jesus spoke to his disciples before he ascended into heaven. This passage is often called the "Great Commission." Jesus told his disciples to go and make other disciples. Disciple is another name for a Christian—a member of God's family. Jesus told his disciples to make other disciples by baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and by teaching them to do everything Jesus commanded. So we see from this passage that baptism is the first part of becoming a disciple—it makes us a member of God's family. Interaction and Reflection: According to the words of Jesus, would you say that baptism is an important part of following Jesus? After baptism, what is the second part of becoming a disciple, according to our passage? 2. All of Christ's Benefits (28.1, 28.4, 28.6) Bible Reading: Colossians 2:8-15 Devotional Reading: In the children's story, Voyage of the Dawntreader, author C. S. Lewis describes a very special picture that some children discovered one day. The picture was hanging on the wall, and showed a beautiful scene that attracted the children to it. But this picture was no ordinary picture. When the children drew near and touched it, they actually entered into the scene of the picture—they had crossed into another world! Baptism can be compared to this special picture. Baptism shows us all the blessings that God has provided for his children through the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of his son Jesus. It is beautiful to behold. But as long as you only look at the picture, you do not experience these blessings. Baptism is more than a picture; it is like the special picture in the story. It is a picture that you and I become a part of when we are baptized. Interaction and Reflection: Can you name some of the benefits that God has provided us through Christ his Son? What do you think the Apostle Paul means when he says that we have been "buried with Jesus in baptism"? 3. A New Way of Life (28.1, 28.6) Bible Reading: Titus 3:1-11 Devotional Reading: What does someone mean when they say something like, "That event was a turning point in my life."? Well, not only does baptism introduce us into the family of God, and not only does it give us access to every blessing that Jesus has provided for us, but baptism marks a turning point in our life. As baptized members of God's family, we have the responsibilities of being in a family. What kind of responsibilities do you have as part of your family? Do you wash dishes, take out the garbage, or clean your room? As a family member, you have the responsibility of honoring and
obeying your father and mother, and of getting along with your brothers or sisters. Since you have the name of your family as your last name, you also have the responsibility of behaving well in public and in private, because anything that you do, good or bad, will be reflected on your entire family. As baptized Christians, we have the incredible honor of having God's name pronounced over us, and it is a great privilege to glorify him in our thoughts, words, and deeds. Interaction and Reflection: We have seen both the benefits and responsibilities of baptism. If you have been baptized as a follower of Jesus, are you motivated to live as a true follower? Take a minute to pray the prayer provided above.
PART VI: THE CHURCH Lesson 5 The Lord's Supper Prayer: Merciful Father, you gave Jesus Christ to be for us the bread of life, that those who come to him should never hunger. Draw us to our Lord in faith and love, that we may eat and drink with him, at his table in his kingdom, where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 1. Christ's Body and Blood (29.1, 29.3, 29.5, 29.6, 29.7, 29.8) Bible Reading: John 6:22-35 Devotional Reading: Have you ever heard someone say, "You are what you eat"? What does that mean? It does not mean that you will become a hamburger, or a carrot, or a jellybean, does it? No, what it means is that if you eat healthy food, you will be healthy and strong, but if you eat sweets and junk food, you will not. But what does this mean for the bread and wine that represent Jesus' body and blood in the Lord's supper? Jesus himself gave us an answer in our passage today in John 6. Although Jesus had not yet introduced the Lord's supper to his disciples when he said these things, the people that heard John's gospel after Jesus ascended to heaven would certainly have thought of the Lord's supper. Jesus says that those who eat of his body and blood will have eternal life. We will have eternal life because eating and drinking of the bread and wine of the Lord's supper strengthens us in our union with Christ. Interaction and Reflection: This week the writers of the Confession have us focus on the sacrament of the Lord's supper. According to our Bible reading today, how important was it to Jesus that his followers should desire him above everything else? Take a minute to pray the prayer for this week. 2. A Divine Memorial (29.1) Bible Reading: I Corinthians 11:23-26 Devotional Reading: Do you know what a memorial is? A memorial is something, like a stone monument or a ceremony, which brings some great event or important person back to the memory of those who see or hear the memorial. In Washington, D.C., there are several memorials. One of the most famous is the Lincoln Memorial. It is dedicated to our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. Everyone who sees it is reminded of what he did. Did you know that God likes to be reminded as well? Of course, this does not mean that God ever forgets—in fact, he cannot forget. But he likes to be reminded of his unforgettable work of grace in giving Jesus Christ as the sacrifice for our sins on the cross. The Lord's supper is a memorial. It serves to remind us of Jesus' ultimate love for his people—the church, but it also serves to remind God of his promise to forgive our sins because of what Jesus did. And what's more, when God is reminded of this promise, he never fails to fulfill it. Interaction and Reflection: When you remember what Jesus did for you on the cross, is this a sad or a happy reminder? Why did you choose the one you did? Tell me, why do you think Jesus left us the Lord's supper as a memorial? (Note: Talk to your kids about the benefits of reminders in other areas of life?) 3. A Nourishing Feast (29.1, 29.7) Bible Reading: Psalm 34:1-10 Devotional Reading:
Can you name some foods that are good tasting, but also good for you? Of course, everyone's taste is not the same. Some people like broccoli, which is very good for you, but other people do not like the taste of broccoli. Many people like ice cream and cookies, but they are not necessarily good for you, especially if you eat them all the time. What about the bread and wine of the Lord's supper? Well, in this meal we ordinarily eat just a small piece of bread and drink a little wine, and so the taste and the health value are not considered very important, although in the time of the New Testament this would have been considered good tasting and good for you. But what can we say about the "supernatural" value of the meal? We have already talked about how important this sacrament is for our spiritual health, but can we enjoy it as well? We can apply Ps. 34:8 to this question, "taste and see that the Lord is good." Indeed, the Lord's supper is a meal that is a rich taste of heaven, and also good for you! Interaction and Reflection: We have been in Part 6 of Big Beliefs! for five weeks now. Part 6 is teaching us wonderful things related to the church. Can you list the five things the writers of the Confession want us to see so far from the Bible about the church? (Note: The Church, The Communion of Saints, The Sacraments, Baptism, and the Lord's Supper.) Take a minute to pray the prayer provided above.
PART VI: THE CHURCH Lesson 6 Church Censures Prayer: Almighty God, who sent John the Baptist to herald the coming of your Son: Grant that the ministers and stewards of your truth may prepare for his coming again by turning our disobedient hearts to the holy wisdom of your law; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 1. Godly Leadership (30.1, 30.2, 30.3) Bible Reading: Isaiah 9:6-7 Devotional Reading: In the city of Chicago police cars have a symbol painted on the side with the words, "To serve and protect." Those words remind everyone of the two primary roles a police officer fulfills. They have the special privilege and joy of serving the community and protecting its citizens from danger and harm. Our city is fortunate to have a host of officers who serve and protect us. Their job is not easy. At times they have to do difficult things to maintain peace and order in our community. In the same way, God has given the church officers who are charged to serve and protect people in the community of faith. One of the ways they serve and protect us is by enforcing the rule of Jesus through something called a censure. A censure is a warning or decision given to people who are straying away from Jesus. A censure is a good thing given to the church by God to maintain peace and purity in Christ's family. It is one of the ways Jesus upholds his government with justice and righteousness. Interaction and Reflection: This week we learn about the importance and benefits of discipline in the church. How might you describe the essential importance of having censures (particular forms of discipline) for the church? Take a few minutes to pray for your church leaders, asking God to help them serve and protect the church of Jesus Christ. 2.
A Charge to Elders (30.1) Bible Reading: 1 Peter 5:1-4
Devotional Reading: There is a saying that goes like this: "At the end of the day, everyone has to answer to someone." Can you tell me what this saying might mean? In a simple way I guess we could say that it means everyone, no matter how many people they might have under their authority, still have someone that is over them—someone to whom they are personally accountable. In our Bible reading today Peter is reminding the elders of this very idea. He wants the elders of the church to know that the church is not their own. They are under-shepherds for the Chief Shepherd named Jesus. This truth helps the men who are in authority in the church apply their leadership carefully. They themselves are under the authority of Jesus. This truth is a wonderful help to elders, for it makes them carry out the tough job of leadership, and at times censure-ship, with humility and strength. Interaction and Reflection: If you were to grow up to be a church leader one day how would you want others to pray for you? How can you, by your words and deeds, help those whom God has put in authority over you?
3.
As a Father Loves His Children (30.3, 30.4) Bible Reading: Psalm 32
Devotional Reading: Little Billy stood in the doorway screaming, "No! No! I will not come inside for my bath no matter what you say!" Little Billy's dad tried to get him to settle down, even offering him candy if he would please come inside. Little Billy didn't move. Eventually, his dad said, "Alright Billy, you win. You don't have to take a bath tonight." Now, can you imagine what kind of man Little Billy will grow up to be like? Worse yet, can you imagine a more naïve and unloving father than this one? Yet today, in our world, things like this happen every night. Fortunately, not with God as our Father. He loves us too much. While God forgives us of our sins, he still disciplines us for our good. After David sinned against God he prayed for forgiveness and God forgave him. But God punished him too. Disobedient behavior needs correcting and God has given his church censures to admonish and correct disobedient children. Never think that censures in the church are unloving or ought not to be done. A loving father disciplines those whom he loves…and leaders in the church are to act like God in this way. Interaction and Reflection: Do you think that discipline is a good thing or a bad thing? Why? Should we be angry or happy with God for loving his children enough to give us leaders who will discipline us when we are speaking or acting in poor ways?
PART VI: THE CHURCH Lesson 7 Synods and Councils Prayer: Eternal Lord, you spoke to the prophets to make your will and purpose known: Inspire the guardians of your truth that through their witness all people may be made one with your saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 1. For the Church's Good (31.1, 31.2) Bible Reading: Acts 15:22-35 Devotional Reading: Do you like going to the library to check out books? Did you know that every library has a special section of books labeled "Reference Works"? These books help us when we are trying to find an answer to a perplexing problem. We can refer to these books in arriving at our own view. Well, did you know that God gave the church something like a reference library? He did! The reference library God gave his church was not a bunch of books on a shelf, but things called synods and councils. One such council was mentioned in our Bible reading today. When the church has a perplexing question that it is having trouble answering, many learned and godly people will assemble together to talk about it. This has happened numerous times throughout the history of the church. When the church was trying to answer the perplexing question of whether or not Jesus was fully God and man they called a council meeting. The same is true regarding the issue of the Trinity. Isn't it great to know that you have these rich resources of synods and councils right at your fingertips? Interaction and Reflection: This week marks the end of Part 6 on The Church. Can you recall the seven headings? (Note: The Church, The Communion of Saints, Sacraments, Baptism, Lord's Supper, Censures, and this week, Synods and Councils). Check out a dictionary of the church from the library or go on-line to see if you can find out any information on a number of church councils and what they were about. 2.
Wisdom for Faith and Practice (31.1) Bible Reading: Proverbs 1:1-7
Devotional Reading: Some animals are said to be known for something. For instance, rabbits are said to be known for eating carrots. Horses are known for running really fast. And dogs are said to be known for being man's best friend. Can you tell me what owls are said to be known for? The answer is wisdom, as in "a wise old owl." After listening to the Bible reading today, I guess you could say that, if we were to be an animal, we should want to be an owl! For it keeps telling us that we ought to work hard at gaining wisdom. We can get wisdom in a number of ways, but the first way is clear: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." Growing up to be a wise person will mean paying close attention to God's Word and the wisdom that is passed down to you by older people. Did you know that if you study the church councils and synods you will find much wisdom there, too? The
teaching passed down to us from them is the fruit of many 'wise old owls' who worked hard at understanding God's Word. Interaction and Reflection: Why do you think that the study of history is important in your desire to be a wise person? Take a minute to pray the prayer for this week. 3. Agreement with the Scriptures (31.3) Bible Reading: Psalm 119:1-8 Devotional Reading: Can you tell me what fruit the state of Florida is especially known for? Florida is known for its oranges! Few breakfast drinks are more refreshing than a tall glass of cold orange juice, especially when the orange juice is poured from a carton the has "100% Pure Orange Juice" on the label. Well, while we have been drinking this week from the enjoyable and helpful waters of church councils and synods, remember that only the Bible is "100% Pure". God's Word is true in every respect. It is never wrong. Human councils throughout history are helpful, but remember they are not holy. They are not equal to God's Word. All church councils are true only in so far as they agree with Scripture. If you keep studying God's Word you will be refreshed and strong—fit to live a life of wisdom and grace. Interaction and Reflection: If the Bible alone is completely true, pure, and authoritative, then explain the very real value of learning about things outside the Bible? Thank God for the many people in history who wrestled with the meaning of the Bible in ways that help us become wise.
PART VII: THE LAST THINGS Lesson 1 Death and Resurrection Prayer: Grant, Lord, that we who are baptized into the death of your Son Jesus Christ, may die to sin, and be buried with him; and that through the grave and gate of death, we may come to our joyful resurrection; through him who died and rose again for us, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 1. Present with the Lord (32.1) Bible Reading: Luke 23:26-27, 32-33, 39-43 Devotional Reading: Some people like recording the dying words of famous people. For instance, Queen Elizabeth's last words were, "To have lived and loved and triumphed; and now to know it is over! One may defy everything but this." General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army's last public words were, "While there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I'll fight—I'll fight—I'll fight to the very end." The final words of John Wesley the preacher were, "The best of all is, God is with us." Someone's last words may be interesting, but our Bible reading today showed us even greater words to remember! The final exciting words of Jesus to one of the thieves who died next to him were, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise." In those words we learn a happy truth—when death comes to those who love Jesus their souls immediately go to be with him in the presence of God! If Jesus knows us, we don't need to fear death. Now those are great last words. Interaction and Reflection: Wow, we have reached the last part of the Confession! Part 7 is about things that take place at the end of our lives and the end of the world. Let's see if we can recall the seven parts of Big Beliefs! [Note: The Bible (1 week), God (4 weeks), The Fall, God's Covenant, and Mankind (3 weeks), Salvation (7 weeks), Christian Life (9 weeks), The Church (7 weeks), and finally, The Last Things (2 weeks).] How are your affections for God strengthened by learning that, upon death, a Christians' soul goes immediately to be with God in heaven? 2. Two Destinies (32.3) Bible Reading: Psalm 1 Devotional Reading: J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit unfolds the exciting adventures of a delightful character named Bilbo Baggins. At long last Bilbo is nearing home. Tolkien writes of Bilbo's first glance at the place from which he had set out, "Coming to a rise he could see his own Hill in the distance, and he stopped suddenly and said:….Roads go ever ever on-Under cloud and under star, Yet feet that wandering have gone-Turn at last to home afar. Eyes that fire and sword have seen-And horror in the halls of stone-Look at last on meadows green-And trees and hills they long have known." Psalm 1 teaches us that after our own adventures in this life we too will turn at last toward home. Once we die we will stand before the God who made us and look on his greatness. Each of us will give an account for how we lived. For those who love Jesus that day will be like coming to trees and hills they long have known. But for those who don't know him, they will be carried away like chaff in the wind. The unrighteous will not stand in the judgment. Since two destinies await all people on that day, we would be wise to give our life to Jesus during these days. Interaction and Reflection: How important is it to be called 'blessed'—or 'approved by God' at the end of life? Take a minute to pray the prayer for this week. 3. The Redemption of our Bodies (32.2) Bible Reading: Job 19:23-27 Devotional Reading: A famous preacher got tired of people trying to compliment him in his work by saying, "Oh, you must have love and passion for souls!" In his heart he knew they only had it half-right. So he said, "I have never had a love or passion for souls….What God has done is create human beings, and human beings are more than a soul: they are body-souls and they are body-souls-in-a-community." I like what the preacher said. It appears that Job in our Bible reading would agree with him too. Job was glad to know that, even after his skin was destroyed by death, yet in his flesh he would see God again! When Jesus returns, everyone who died believing in him will find their body not only being reunited with their soul—but both body and soul will dwell with God forever. Isn't that great news? It should help us whenever we attend a Christian funeral. The separation of the body from the soul is only temporary. When Jesus saves, us he does more than save our souls from death—he saves our bodies from the penalty of sin too!
Interaction and Reflection: How are your affections for God strengthened by knowing that he saves your body and your soul? Name some things that you can do to take better care of your body and soul.
PART VII: THE LAST THINGS Lesson 2 The Last Judgment Prayer: Cleanse our consciences, O Lord, and enlighten our hearts, through the daily presence of your Son Jesus Christ: That when he comes again in glory to be our judge we may be found acceptable in his sight; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. 1. The Supreme Judge (33.1) Bible Reading: Psalm 2 Devotional Reading: Many kids enjoy watching DVDs and videos. Are you one of them? What two movies would you list as all-time favorites? Most kids never want the movie they are watching to end. They wish it would go on forever. But it doesn't. Eventually the words "The End" roll across the screen to tell them it's over. Sadly, some adults view life the way kids view videos. Oddly enough, we begin to think that life as we know it will never end—but rather keep on going from one generation to another without end. Psalm 2 teaches us something different. One day God's anointed king, the Lord Jesus, will come again to take the ends of the earth as his rightful possession. This Psalm warns us to be wise—to honor the Son—to serve the LORD with fear—and to take refuge in him before his wrath comes. Have you submitted your life to God's king yet? Remember, the Scriptures are clear: eventually the words "The End" will roll across the screen of human history. Interaction and Reflection: Did you know that this week you will come to the end of Big Beliefs!? What important truth did you learn today that should stay with you forever? Take a minute to pray the prayer for this week. 2. The Final Verdicts (33.2) Bible Reading: Revelation 20:11-15 Devotional Reading: Young Joey got up out of the mud and spoke on behalf of his friends who had been with him. His words came slowly and with a sarcastic drawl "Awww, Mr. Gee-o-dy. Pretty please, can't we have just one more chance?" "No", came the reply. "If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times—Stay out of the sandlot after a big rain. It ruins the playing field. So it's over now—this is my final word—you can't play here anymore!" Then Mr. Geeody turned and spoke to the other children who had stayed off the sandlot. "You children who listened to my voice and obeyed me, come with me…I have made a better field for you to play on." This story is an illustration of our Bible reading today. When Jesus returns, he brings his final word to us. And on that day there will be no more chances. His word will be final. Some people will be taken away, while others of obedient faith will enter the new field of heaven. This is true. And if the Bible has told us this once, it has told us this a thousand times. So, I ask you, what will you do with Jesus? Interaction and Reflection: In what ways is the final judgment of God an important work of righteousness? (Note: If God were never to judge rebellion and sin, then true justice would escape and the harm that has been committed against God and people by sinners would never be adequately paid for.) Does knowing about the final judgment make you want to turn to Christ for forgiveness of sins? Why not take a minute to pray the prayer for this week? 3. Come, Lord Jesus (33.3) Bible Reading: Revelation 22:12-21 Devotional Reading: Tell me what you feel like at bed-time on Christmas Eve—knowing that when morning comes it will be Christmas Day! Most of us feel excited and are eager because we have been looking forward to Christmas for a really long time. Well guess what. Wouldn't it be great if we felt the same way about the day when Jesus returns to take us to heaven? Isn't it a bit strange that we get really excited about celebrating the day he was born but have trouble getting excited
about the day he will come again? The Apostle John who wrote the last book in the Bible didn't have any problem getting fired up about Jesus' return. What he wrote told us how he felt about that long-awaited day: "Come Lord Jesus!" If we knew how great his return will be for his children, we would be shouting cheers like the Apostle John: "Come! Bring it on! Hurry up Lord Jesus!" All of history is moving toward that wonderful day, and we have been waiting a really long time for it. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you all. Now, on that day, and forever more. Amen. Interaction and Reflection: ƒ Why should you be looking forward to the return of Jesus? ƒ Take time to celebrate! You have finished Big Beliefs! We hope this has been helpful to you and your family. If you would like to receive our one-year devotional we have written on the plot line of the Bible entitled The Big Picture Devotional, we would be glad to send it to you.
The Westminster Confession of Faith Table of Contents
Chapter I: Of the Holy Scripture Chapter II: Of God, and of the Holy Trinity Chapter III: Of God’s Eternal Decree Chapter IV: Of Creation Chapter V: Of Providence Chapter VI: Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and the Punishment thereof Chapter VII: Of God’s Covenant with Man Chapter VIII: Of Christ the Mediator Chapter IX: Of Free Will Chapter X: Of Effectual Calling Chapter XI: Of Justification Chapter XII: Of Adoption Chapter XIII: Of Sanctification Chapter XIV: Of Saving Faith Chapter XV: Of Repentance unto Life Chapter XVI: Of Good Works Chapter XVII: Of the Perseverance of the Saints Chapter XVIII: Of Assurance of Grace and Salvation Chapter XIX: Of the Law of God Chapter XX: Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience Chapter XXI: Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day Chapter XXII: Of Lawful Oaths and Vows Chapter XXIII: Of the Civil Magistrate Chapter XXIV: Of Marriage and Divorce Chapter XXV: Of the Church Chapter XXVI: Of the Communion of Saints Chapter XXVII: Of the Sacraments Chapter XXVIII: Of Baptism Chapter XXIX: Of the Lord’s Supper Chapter XXX: Of Church Censures Chapter XXXI: Of Synods and Councils Chapter XXXII: Of the State of Men after Death and of the Resurrection of the Dead Chapter XXXIII: Of the Last Judgment
The Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter I: Of the Holy Scripture 1.1. Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men unexcusable;1 yet they are not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of His will, which is necessary unto salvation.2 Therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal Himself, and to declare that His will unto His Church;3 and afterwards for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the Church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing;4 which maketh the Holy Scripture to be most necessary;5 those former ways of God’s revealing His will unto His people being now ceased.6 1.2. Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testament, which are these: Of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, I Chronicles, II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, The Song of Songs, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. Of the New Testament: The Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, The Acts of the Apostles, Paul’s Epistles to the Romans, Corinthians I, Corinthians II, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians I , Thessalonians II , to Timothy I , to Timothy II, to Titus, to Philemon, The Epistle to the Hebrews, The Epistle of James, The first and second Epistles of Peter, The first, second, and third Epistles of John, The Epistle of Jude, The Revelation of John. All which are given by inspiration of God to be the rule of faith and life.7 1.3. The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon of the Scripture, and therefore are of no authority in the Church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved, or made use of, than other human writings.8 1.4. The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, depends not upon the testimony of any man, or Church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God.9 1.5. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the Church to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scripture.10 And the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is, to give all glory to God), the full discovery it maketh of the only way of man’s salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God: yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority thereof , is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.11 1.6. The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man’s salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men.12 Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word:13 and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the Church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature, and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.14 1.7. All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all:15 yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation are so clearly propounded, and
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opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.16 1.8. The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old), and the New Testament in Greek (which, at the time of the writing of it, was most generally known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God, and, by His singular care and providence, kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical;17 so as, in all controversies of religion, the Church is finally to appeal unto them.18 But, because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have right unto, and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded, in the fear of God, to read and search them,19 therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come,20 that, the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship Him in an acceptable manner;21 and, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, may have hope.22 1.9. The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself: and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly.23 1.10. The Supreme Judge, by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decress of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture.24 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.
Romans 2:14-15; 1:19-20; Psalm 19:1-3; Romans 1:32; 2:1; 1 Corinthians 1:21; 2:13-14; Hebrews 1:1; Proverbs 22:19-21; Luke 1:3-4; Romans 15:4; Matthew 4:4, 7, 10; Isaiah 8:19-20 2 Timothy 3:15; 2 Peter 1:19 Hebrews 1:1-2 Luke 16:29, 31; Ephesians 2:20; Revelation 22:18-19; 2 Timothy 3:16 Luke 24:27, 44; Romans 3:2; 2 Peter 1:21 2 Peter 1:19, 21; 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 John 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 2:13 1 Timothy 3:15 1 John 2:20,27; John 16:13-14; 1 Corinthians 2:10-12; Isaiah 54:21 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Galatians 1:8-9; 2 Thessalonians 2:2 John 6:45; 1 Corinthians 2:9-12 1 Corinthians 11:13-14; 14:26, 40 Peter 3:16 Psalm 119:105, 130 Matthew 5:18 Isaiah 8:20; Acts 15:15; John 5:39, 46 John 5:39 1 Corinthians 14:6, 9, 11-12, 24, 27-28 Colossians 3:16 Romans 15:4 2 Peter 1:20-21; Acts 15:15-16 Matthew 22:29, 31; Ephesians 2:20; Acts 28:25
Chapter II: Of God, and of the Holy Trinity 2.1. There is but one only,1 living, and true God,2 who is infinite in being and perfection,3 a most pure spirit,4 invisible,5 without body, parts,6 or passions7; immutable,8 immense,9 eternal,10 incomprehensible,11 almighty,12 most wise,13 most holy,14 most free,15 most absolute;16 working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will,17 for His own glory; 18 most loving,19 gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin;20 the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him;21 and withal, most just, and terrible in His judgments,22 hating all sin,23 and who will by no means clear the guilty.24 2.2. God hath all life,25 glory,26 goodness,27 blessedness,28 in and of Himself; and is alone in and unto Himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which He hath made,29 nor deriving any glory from them,30 but only manifesting His own glory in, by, unto, and upon them. He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things;31 and hath most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatsoever Himself pleases.32 In 5 His sight all things are open and manifest,33 His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature,34 35 so as nothing is to Him contingent, or uncertain. He is most holy in all His counsels, in all His works, and in all His commands.36 To Him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience He is pleased to require of them.37 2.3. In the unity of the Godhead there be three Persons of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.38 The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father;39 the Holy Spirit eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son.40
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1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.
Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4,6 1 Thessalonians 1:9; Jeremiah 10:10 Job 11:7-9; 26:14 John 4:24 1 Timothy 1:17 Deuteronomy 4:15-16; John 4:24; Luke 24:39 Acts 14:11, 15 James 1:17; Malachi 3:6 1 Kings 8:27; Jeremiah 23:23-24 Psalm 90:2; 1 Timothy 1:17 Psalm 145:3 Genesis 17:1; Revelation 4:8 Romans 16:27 Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8 Psalm 115:3 Exodus 3:14 Ephesians 1:11 Proverbs 16:4; Romans 11:36 1 John 4:8,16 Exodus 34:6-7 Hebrews 11:6 Nehemiah 9:32-33 Psalm 5:5-6 Nahum 1:2-3; Exodus 34:7 John 5:26 Acts 7:2 Psalm 119:68 1 Timothy 6:15; Romans 9:5 Acts 17:24-25 Job 22:2-3 Romans 11:36 Revelation 4:11; 1 Timothy 6:15; Daniel 4:25, 35 Hebrews 4:13 Romans 11:33-34; Psalm 147:5 Acts 15:18; Ezekiel 11:5 Psalm 145:17; Romans 7:12 Revelation 5:12-14 Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19 John 1:14, 18 John 15:26; Galatians 4:6
Chapter III: Of God’s Eternal Decree 3.1. God from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass;1 yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin,2 nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures; nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.3 3.2. Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass upon all supposed conditions;4 yet He hath not decreed anything because He foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.5 3.3. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels6 are predestinated unto everlasting life; and others foreordained to everlasting death.7 3.4. These angels and men, thus predestinated, and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.8 3.5. Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, hath chosen, in Christ, unto everlasting glory,9 out of His mere free grace and love, without any foresight of faith, or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving Him thereunto;10 and all to the praise of His glorious grace.11 3.6. As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so hath He, by the eternal and most free purpose of His will, foreordained all the means thereunto.12 Wherefore, they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ,13 are effectually called unto faith in Christ by His Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified,14 and kept by His power, through faith, unto salvation.15 Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.16 3.7. The rest of mankind God was pleased, according to the unsearchable counsel of His own will, whereby He extends or withholds mercy, as He pleases, for the glory of His sovereign power over His creatures, to pass by; and to ordain them to dishonor and wrath for their sin, to the praise of His glorious justice.17 3.8. The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care,18
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that men, attending the will of God revealed in His Word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election.19 So shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God;20 and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the Gospel.21 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.
Ephesians 1:11; Romans 11:33; Hebrews 6:17; Romans 9:15, 18 James 1:13, 17; 1 John 1:5 Acts 2:23; Matthew 17:12; Acts 4:27-28; John 19:11; Proverbs 16:33 Acts 15:18; 1 Samuel 23:11-12; Matthew 11:21, 23 Romans 9:11, 13, 16, 18 Timothy 5:21; Matthew 25:41 Romans 9:22-23; Ephesians 1:5-6; Proverbs 16:4 2 Timothy 2:19; John 13:18 Ephesians 1:4, 9, 11; Romans 8:30; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9 Romans 9:11, 13, 16; Ephesians 1:4, 9 Ephesians 1:6, 12 1 Peter 1:2; Ephesians 1:4-5; 2:10; 2 Thessalonians 2:13 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10; Titus 2:14 Romans 8:30; Ephesians 1:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:13 1 Peter 1:5 John 17:9; Romans 8:28; John 6:64-65; 10:26; 8:47; 1 John 2:19 Matthew 11:25-26; Romans 9:17-18, 21-22; 2 Timothy 2:19-20; Jude 4; 1 Peter 2:8 Romans 9:20; 11:33; Deuteronomy 24:29 2 Peter 1:10 Ephesians 1:6; Romans 11:33 Romans 11:5, 6, 20; 2 Peter 1:10; Romans 8:33; Luke 10:20
Chapter IV: Of Creation 4.1. It pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,1 for the manifestation of the glory of His eternal power, wisdom, and goodness,2 in the beginning, to create, or make of nothing, the world, and all things therein whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days and all very good.3 4.2. After God had made all other creatures, He created man, male and female,4 with reasonable and immortal souls,5 endued with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, after His own image;6 having the law of God written in their hearts,7 and power to fulfil it;8 and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject unto change.9 Beside this law written in their hearts, they received a command, not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil;10 which while they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures.11 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
Hebrews 1:2; John 1:2-3; Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13; 33:4 Romans 1:20; Jeremiah 10:12; Psalm 104:24; 33:5-6 Genesis 1; Hebrews 11:3; Colossians 1:16; Acts 17:24 Genesis 1:27 Genesis 2:7; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Luke 23:43; Matthew 10:28 Genesis 1:26; Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24 Romans 2:14-15 Ecclesiastes 7:29 Genesis 3:6; Ecclesiastes 7:29 Genesis 2:17; 3:8-11, 23 Genesis 1:26, 28
Chapter V: Of Providence 5.1. God the great Creator of all things doth uphold,1 direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things,2 from the greatest even to the least,3 by His most wise and holy providence,4 according to His infallible foreknowledge,5 and the free and immutable counsel of His own will,6 to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy.7 5.2. Although, in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first Cause, all things come to pass immutably, and infallibly;8 yet, by the same providence, He orders them to fall out, according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.9 5.3. God, in His ordinary providence, maketh use of means,10 yet is free to work without,11 above,12 and against them,13 at His pleasure. 5.4. The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God so far manifest themselves in His providence, that it extends itself even to the first fall, and all other sins of angels and men;14 and that not by a bare permission,15 but such as hath joined with it a most wise and powerful bounding,16 and otherwise ordering, and governing of them, in a manifold dispensation, to His own holy ends;17 yet so, as the sinfulness thereof proceeds only from the creature, and not from God, who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin.18
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5.5. The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave, for a season, His own children to manifold temptations, and the corruption of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled;19 and, to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon Himself, and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for sundry other just and holy ends.20 5.6. As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as a righteous Judge, for former sins, doth blind and harden,21 from them He not only withholds His grace whereby they might have been enlightened in their understandings, and wrought upon in their hearts;22 but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had,23 and exposeth them to such objects as their corruption maketh occasion of sin;24 and, withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan,25 whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves, even under those means which God uses for the softening of others.26 5.7. As the providence of God doth, in general, reach to all creatures; so, after a most special manner, it taketh care of His Church, and disposeth all things to the good thereof.27 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27.
Hebrews 1:3 Daniel 4:34-35; Psalm 135:6; Acts 17:25-26, 28; Job 38: 39: 40; 41 Matthew 10:29-31 Proverbs 15:3; Psalm 104:24; 145:17 Acts 15:18; Psalm 94:8-11 Ephesians 1:11; Psalm 33:10-11 Isaiah 63:14; Ephesians 3:10; Romans 9:17; Genesis 45:7; Psalm 145:7 Acts 2:23 Genesis 8:22; Jeremiah 31:35; Exodus 21:13; Deuteronomy 19:5; 1 Kings 22:28, 34; Isaiah 10:6-7 Acts 27:31, 44; Isaiah 55:10-11; Hosea 2:21-22 Hosea 1:7; Matthew 4:4; Job 34:10 Romans 4:19-21 2 Kings 6:6; Daniel 3:27 Romans 11:32-34; 2 Samuel 24:1; 1 Chronicles 21:1; 1 Kings 22:22-23; 1 Chronicles 10:4, 13-14; 2 Samuel 16:10; Acts 2:23; 4:27-28 Acts 14:16 Psalm 76:10; 2 Kings 19:28 Genesis 50:20; Isaiah 10:6-7, 12 James 1:13-14, 17; 1 John 2:16; Psalm 50:21 2 Chronicles 32:25-26, 31; 2 Samuel 24:1 2 Corinthians 12:7-9; Psalm 73; Psalm 77:1, 10, 12; Mark 14:66-72; John 21:15-17 Romans 1:24, 26, 28; 11:7-8 Deuteronomy 29:4 Matthew 13:12; 25:29 Deuteronomy 2:30; 2 Kings 8:12-13 Psalm 81:11-12; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 Exodus 7:3; 8:15, 32; 2 Corinthians 2:15-16; Isaiah 8:14; 1 Peter 2:7-8; Isaiah 6:9-10; Acts 28:26-27 1 Timothy 4:10; Amos 9:8-9; Romans 8:28; Isaiah 43:3-5, 14
Chapter VI: Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and the Punishment thereof 6.1. Our first parents, being seduced by the subtilty and temptations of Satan, sinned, in eating the forbidden fruit.1 This their sin, God was pleased, according to His wise and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed to order it to His own glory.2 6.2. By this sin they fell from their original righteousness and communion, with God,3 and so became dead in sin,4 and wholly defiled in all the parts and faculties of soul and body.5 6.3. They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed;6 and the same death in sin, and corrupted nature, conveyed to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation.7 6.4. From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good,8 and wholly inclined to all evil,9 do proceed all actual transgressions.10 6.5. This corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated;11 and although it be, through Christ, pardoned, and mortified; yet both itself, and all the motions thereof, are truly and properly sin.12 6.6. Every sin, both original and actual, being a transgression of the righteous law of God, and contrary thereunto,13 doth in its own nature, bring guilt upon the sinner,14 whereby he is bound over to the wrath of God,15 and curse of the law,16 and so made subject to death,17 with all miseries spiritual,18 temporal,19 and eternal.20
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1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
Genesis 3:13; 2 Corinthians 11:3 Romans 11:32 Genesis 3:6-8; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Romans 3:23 Genesis 2:17; Ephesians 2:1 Titus 1:15; Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-18 Genesis 1:27-28; 2:16-17; Acts 17:6; Romans 5:12, 15-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 45, 49 Psalm 51:5; Genesis 6:3; Job 14:4; 15:14 Romans 5:6; 8:7; 7:18; Colossians 1:21 Genesis 6:5; 8:21; Romans 3:10-12 James 1:14-15; Ephesians 2:2-3; Matthew 15:19 1 John 1:8, 10; Romans 7:14, 17-18, 23; James 3:2; Proverbs 20:9; Ecclesiastes7:20 Romans 7:5-8, 25; Galatians 5:17 1 John 3:4 Romans 2:15; 3:9, 19 Ephesians 2:3 Galatians 3:10 Romans 6:23 Ephesians 4:18 Romans 8:20; Lamentations 3:39 Matthew 25:41; 2 Thessalonians 1:9
Chapter VII: Of God’s Covenant with Man 7.1. The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience unto Him as their Creator, yet they could never have any fruition of Him as their blessedness and reward, but by some voluntary condescension on God’s part, which He hath been pleased to express by way of covenant.1 7.2. The first covenant made with man was a covenant of works,2 wherein life was promised to Adam; and in him to his posterity,3 upon condition of perfect and personal obedience.4
7.3. Man, by his fall, having made himself incapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second,5 commonly called the covenant of grace; wherein He freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ; requiring of them faith in Him, that they may be saved,6 and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life His Holy Spirit, to make them willing, and able to believe.7 7.4. This covenant of grace is frequently set forth in scripture by the name of a testament, in reference to the death of Jesus Christ the Testator, and to the everlasting inheritance, with all things belonging to it, therein bequeathed.8 7.5. This covenant was differently administered in the time of the law, and in the time of the Gospel:9 under the law it was administered by promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, the paschal lamb, and other types and ordinances delivered to the people of the Jews, all foresignifying Christ to come;10 which were, for that time, sufficient and efficacious, through the operation of the Spirit, to instruct and build up the elect in faith in the promised Messiah,11 by whom they had full remission of sins, and eternal salvation; and is called the Old Testament.12 7.6. Under the Gospel, when Christ, the substance,13 was exhibited, the ordinances in which this covenant is dispensed are the preaching of the Word, and the administration of the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper:14 which, though fewer in number, and administered with more simplicity, and less outward glory, yet, in them, it is held forth in more fullness, evidence, and spiritual efficacy,15 to all nations, both Jews and Gentiles;16 and is called the New Testament.17 There are not therefore two covenants of grace, differing in substance, but one and the same, under various dispensations.18 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.
Isaiah 40:13-17; Job 9:32-33; 1 Samuel 2:25; Psalm 113:5-6; 100:2-3; Job 22:2-3; 35:7-8; Luke 17:10; Acts 17:24-25 Galatians 3:12 Romans 10:5; 5:12-20 Genesis 2:17; Galatians 3:10 Galatians 3:21; Romans 8:3; 3:20-21; Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 42:6 Mark 16:15-16; John 3:16; Romans 5:6,9; Galatians 3:11 Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 6:44-45 Hebrews 9:15-17; 7:22; Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25 2 Corinthians 3:6-9 Hebrews 8-10; Romans 4:11; Colossians 2:11-12; 1 Corinthians 5:7 1 Corinthians 10:1-4; Hebrews 11:13; John 8:56 Galatians 3:7-9, 14 Colossians 2:17 Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 Hebrews 12:22-27; Jeremiah 31:33-34 Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 2:15-19 Luke 22:20 Galatians 3:14, 16; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:21-23, 30; Psalm 32:1; Romans 4:3, 6, 16-17, 23-24; Hebrews 13:8
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Chapter VIII: Of Christ the Mediator 8.1. It pleased God, in His eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, His only begotten Son, to be the Mediator between God and man,1 the Prophet,2 Priest,3 and King,4 the Head and Savior of His Church,5 the Heir of all things,6 and Judge of the world:7 unto whom He did from all eternity give a people, to be His seed,8 and to be by Him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.9 8.2. The Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance and equal with the Father, did, when the fullness of time was come, take upon Him man’s nature,10 with all the essential properties, and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin;11 being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her substance.12 So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion.13 Which person is very God, and very man, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man.14 8.3. The Lord Jesus, in His human nature thus united to the divine, was sanctified, and anointed with the Holy Spirit, above measure,15 having in Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge;16 in whom it pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell;17 to the end that, being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth,18 He might be thoroughly furnished to execute the office of a Mediator and Surety.19 Which office He took not unto Himself, but was thereunto called by His Father,20 who put all power and judgment into His hand, and gave Him commandment to execute the same.21 8.4. This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake;22 which that He might discharge, He was made under the law,23 and did perfectly fulfil it;24 endured most grievous torments immediately in His soul,25 and most painful sufferings in His body;26 was crucified, and died,27 was buried, and remained under the power of death, yet saw no corruption.28 On the third day He arose from the dead,29 with the same body in which He suffered,30 with which also he ascended into heaven, and there sitteth at the right hand of His Father,31 making intercession,32 and shall return, to judge men and angels, at the end of the world.33 8.5. The Lord Jesus, by His perfect obedience, and sacrifice of Himself, which He through the eternal Spirit, once offered up unto God, hath fully satisfied the justice of His Father;34 and purchased, not only reconciliation, but an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for those whom the Father hath given unto Him.35 8.6. Although the work of redemption was not actually wrought by Christ till after His incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefits thereof were communicated unto the elect, in all ages successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices, wherein He was revealed, and signified to be the seed of the woman which should bruise the serpent’s head; and the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world; being yesterday and today the same, and forever.36 8.7. Christ, in the work of mediation, acts according to both natures, by each nature doing that which is proper to itself;37 yet, by reason of the unity of the person, that which is proper to one nature is sometimes in Scripture attributed to the person denominated by the other nature.38 8.8. To all those for whom Christ hath purchased redemption, He doth certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same;39 making intercession for them,40 and revealing unto them, in and by the word, the mysteries of salvation;41 effectually persuading them by His Spirit to believe and obey, and governing their hearts by His word and Spirit;42 overcoming all their enemies by His almighty power and wisdom, in such manner, and ways, as are most consonant to His wonderful and unsearchable dispensation.43 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.
Isaiah 42:1; 1 Peter 1:19-20; John 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:5 Acts 3:22 Hebrews 5:5-6 Psalm 2:6; Luke 1:33 Ephesians 5:23 Hebrews 1:2 Acts 17:31 John 17:6; Psalm 22:30; Isaiah 53:10 1 Timothy 2:6; Isaiah 55:4-5; 1 Corinthians 1:30 John 1:1, 14; 1 John 5:20; Philippians 2:6; Galatians 4:4 Hebrews 2:14, 16-17; 4:15 Luke 1:27, 31, 35; Galatians 4:4 Luke 1:35; Colossians 2:9; Romans 9:5; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 Timothy 3:16 Romans 1:3-4; 1 Timothy 2:5 Psalm 45:7; John 3:34 Colossians 2:3
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17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43.
Colossians 1:19 Hebrews 7:26; John 1:14 Acts 10:38; Hebrews 12:24; 7:22 Hebrews 5:4-5 John 5:22, 27; Matthew 28:18; Acts 2:36 Psalm 40:7-8; Hebrews 10:5-10; John 10:18; Philippians 2:8 Galatians 4:4 Matthew 3:15; 5:17 Matthew 26:37-38; Luke 22:44; Matthew 27:46 Matthew 26-27 Philippians 2:8 Acts 2:23-24, 27; 13:37; Romans 6:9 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 John 20:25, 27 Mark 16:19 Romans 8:34; Hebrews 9:24; 7:25 Romans 14:9-10; Acts 1:11; 10:42; Matthew 13:40-42; Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:4 Romans 5:19; Hebrews 9:14, 16; 10:14; Ephesians 5:2; Romans 3:25-26 Daniel 9:24, 26; Colossians 1:19-20; Ephesians 1:11, 14; John 17:2; Hebrews 9:12 Galatians 4:4-5; Genesis 3:15; Revelation 13:8; Hebrews 13:8 Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 3:18 Acts 20:28; John 3:13; 1 John 3:16 John 6:37, 39; 10:15-16 John 2:1-2; Romans 8:34 John 15:13, 15; Ephesians 1:7-9; John 17:6 John 14:16; Hebrews 12:2; 2 Corinthians 4:13; Romans 8:9, 14; 15:18-19; John 17:17 Psalm 110:1; 1 Corinthians 15:25-26; Malachi 4:2-3; Colossians 2:15
Chapter IX: Of Free Will 9.1. God hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty, that is neither forced, nor, by any absolute necessity of nature, determined good, or evil.1 9.2. Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom, and power to will and to do that which was good and well pleasing to God;2 but yet, mutably, so that he might fall from it.3 9.3. Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation:4 so as, a natural man, being altogether averse from that good,5 and dead in sin,6 is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto.7 9.4. When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, He freeth him from his natural bondage under sin;8 and, by His grace alone, enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good;9 yet so, as that by reason of his remaining corruption, he doth not perfectly, or only, will that which is good, but doth also will that which is evil.10 9.5. The will of man is made perfectly and immutably free to do good alone in the state of glory only.11 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
Matthew 17:12; James 1:14; Deuteronomy 30:19 Ecclesiastes 7:29; Genesis 1:26 Genesis 2:16-17; 3:6 Romans 5:6; 8:7; John 15:5 Romans 3:10, 12 Ephesians 2:1, 5; Colossians 2:13 John 6:44, 65; Ephesians 2:2-5; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Titus 3:3-5 Colossians 1:13; John 8:34, 36 Philippians 2:13; Romans 6:18, 22 Galatians 5:17; Romans 7:15, 18-19, 21, 23 Ephesians 4:13; Hebrews 12:23; 1 John 3:2; Jude 24
Chapter X: Of Effectual Calling 10.1. All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, He is pleased, in His appointed time, effectually to call,1 by His Word and Spirit,2 out of that state of sin and death, in which they are by nature to grace and salvation, by Jesus Christ;3 enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God,4 taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them an heart of flesh;5 renewing their wills, and, by His almighty power, determining them to that which is good,6 and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ:7 yet so, as they come most freely, being made willing by His grace.8 10.2. This effectual call is of God’s free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man,9 who is altogether passive therein, until, being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit, 10 he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it. 11 10.3. Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated, and saved by Christ, through the Spirit,12 who works when, and where, and how He pleases:13 so also are all other elect persons who are incapable of being
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outwardly called by the ministry of the Word.14 10.4. Others, not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word,15 and may have some common operations of the Spirit,16 yet they never truly come unto Christ, and therefore cannot be saved:17 much less can men, not professing the Christian religion, be saved in any other way whatsoever, be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature, and the laws of that religion they do profess.18 And to assert and maintain that they may, is very pernicious, and to be detested.19 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.
Romans 8:30; 11:7; Ephesians 1:10-11 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; 2 Corinthians 3:3, 6 Romans 8:2; Ephesians 2:1-5; 2 Timothy 1:9-10 Acts 26:18; 1 Corinthians 2:10, 12; Ephesians 1:17-18 Ezekiel 36:26 Ezekiel 11:19; Philippians 2:13; Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 36:27 Ephesians 1:19; John 6:44-45 Song 1:4; Psalm 110:3; John 6:37; Romans 6:16-18 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:4-5; Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-9; Romans 9:11 1 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:7; Ephesians 2:5 John 6:37; Ezekiel 36:27; John 5:25 Luke 18:15-16; Acts 2:38-39; John 3:3, 5; 1 John 5:12; Romans 8:9 John 3:8 1 John 5:12; Acts 4:12 Matthew 22:14 Matthew 7:22; 13:20-21; Hebrews 6:4-5 John 6:64-66; 8:24 Acts 4:12; John 14:6; Ephesians 2:12; John 4:22; 17:3 2 John 9-11; 1 Corinthians 16:22; Galatians 1:6-8
Chapter XI: Of Justification 11.1. Those whom God effectually calleth, He also freely justifies;1 not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous; not for any thing wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ’s sake alone; nor by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing the obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto them,2 they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith; which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God.3 11.2. Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and His righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification:4 yet is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but works by love.5 11.3. Christ, by His obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are thus justified, and did make a proper, real and full satisfaction to His Father’s justice in their behalf.6 Yet, in as much as He was given by the Father for them;7 and His obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead;8 and both, freely, not for any thing in them; their justification is only of free grace;9 that both the exact justice, and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners.10 11.4. God did, from all eternity, decree to justify all the elect,11 and Christ did, in the fullness of time, die for their sins, and rise again for their justification:12 nevertheless, they are not justified, until the Holy Spirit doth, in due time, actually apply Christ unto them.13 11.5. God doth continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified;14 and although they can never fall from the state of justification,15 yet they may, by their sins, fall under God’s fatherly displeasure, and not have the light of His countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.16 11.6. The justification of believers under the Old Testament was, in all these respects, one and the same with the justification of believers under the New Testament.17 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.
Romans 8:30; 3:24 Romans 4:5-8; 2 Corinthians 5:19, 21; Romans 3:22, 24-25, 27-28; Titus 3:5, 7; Ephesians 1:7; Jeremiah 23:6; 1 Corinthians 1:30-31; Romans 5:17-19 Acts 10:44; Galatians 2:16; Philippians 3:9; Acts 13:38-39; Ephesians 2:7-8 John 1:12; Romans 3:28; Romans 5:1 James 2:17, 22, 26; Galatians 5:6 Romans 5:8-10, 19; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 10:10, 14; Daniel 9:24, 26; Isaiah 53:4-6, 10-12 Romans 8:32 2 Corinthians 5:21; Matthew 3:17; Ephesians 5:2 Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:7 Romans 3:26; Ephesians 2:7 Galatians 3:8; 1 Peter 1:2, 19-20; Romans 8:30 Galatians 4:4; 1 Timothy 2:6; Romans 4:25 Colossians 1:21-22; Galatians 2:16; Titus 3:4-7 Matthew 6:12; 1 John 1:7, 9; 1 John 2:1-2 Luke 22:32; John 10:28; Hebrews 10:14
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17. 18.
Psalm 89:31-33; Psalm 51:7-12; Psalm 32:5; Matthew 26:75; 1 Corinthians 11:30, 32; Luke 1:20 Galatians 3:9, 13-14; Romans 4:22-424; Hebrews 13:8
Chapter XII: Of Adoption 12.1. All those that are justified, God vouchsafeth, in and for His only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption,1 by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God,2 have His name put upon them,3 receive the spirit of adoption,4 have access to the throne of grace with boldness,5 are enabled to cry, Abba, Father,6 are pitied,7 protected,8 provided for,9 and chastened by Him as by a Father:10 yet never cast off,11 but sealed to the day of redemption;12 and inherit the promises,13 as heirs of everlasting salvation.14 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Ephesians 1:5; Galatians 4:4-5 Romans 8:17; John 1:12 Jeremiah 14:9; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Revelation 3:12 Romans 8:15 Ephesians 3:12; Romans 5:2 Galatians 4:6 Psalm 103:13 Proverbs 14:26 Matthew 6:30, 32; 1 Peter 5:7 Hebrews 12:6 Lamentations 3:31 Ephesians 4:30 Hebrews 6:12 1 Peter 1:3-4; Hebrews 1:14
Chapter XIII: Of Sanctification 13.1. They, who are once effectually called, and regenerated, having a new heart, and a new spirit created in them, are further sanctified, really and personally, through the virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection,1 by His Word and Spirit dwelling in them:2 the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed,3 and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified;4 and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces,5 to the practice of true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.6 13.2. This sanctification is throughout, in the whole man;7 yet imperfect in this life, there abiding still some remnants of corruption in every part;8 whence ariseth a continual and irreconcilable war, the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.9 13.3. In which war, although the remaining corruption, for a time, may much prevail;10 yet, through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part doth overcome;11 and so, the saints grow in grace,12 perfecting holiness in the fear of God.13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
1 Corinthians 6:11; Acts 20:32; Philippians 3:10; Romans 6:5-6 John 17:17; Ephesians 5:26; 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Romans 6:6, 14 Galatians 5:24; Romans 8:13 Colossians 1:11; Ephesians 3:16-19 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14 1 Thessalonians 5:23 1 John 1:10; Romans 7:18, 23; Philippians 3:12 Galatians 5:17; 1 Peter 2:11 Romans 7:23 Romans 6:14; 1 John 5:4; Ephesians 4:15-16 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 3:18 2 Corinthians 7:1
Chapter XIV: Of Saving Faith 14.1. The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls,1 is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts,2 and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word,3 by which also, and by the administration of the sacraments, and prayer, it is increased and strengthened.4 14.2. By this faith, a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God Himself speaking therein;5 and acts differently upon that which each particular passage thereof contains; yielding obedience to the commands,6 trembling at the threatenings,7 and embracing the promises of God for this life, and that which is to come.8 But the principal acts of saving faith are accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.9
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14.3. This faith is different in degrees, weak or strong;10 may be often and many ways assailed, and weakened, but gets the victory:11 growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance, through Christ,12 who is both the author and finisher of our faith.13 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.
Hebrews 10:39 2 Corinthians 4:13; Ephesians 1:17-19, 2:8 Romans 10:14, 17 1 Peter 2:2; Acts 20:32; Romans 4:11; Luke 17:5; Romans 1:16-17 John 4:42; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 John 5:10; Acts 24:14 Romans 16:26 Isaiah 66:2 Hebrews 11:13; 1 Timothy 4:8 John 1:12; Acts 16:31; Galatians 2:20; Acts 15:11 Hebrews 5:13-14; Romans 4:19-20; Matthew 6:30; 8:10 Luke 22:31-32; Ephesians 6:16; 1 John 5:4-5 Hebrews 6:11-12; 10:22 Hebrews 12:2
Chapter XV: Of Repentance unto Life 15.1. Repentance unto life is an evangelical grace,1 the doctrine whereof is to be preached by every minister of the Gospel, as well as that of faith in Christ.2 15.2. By it, a sinner, out of the sight and sense not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, as contrary to the holy nature, and righteous law of God; and upon the apprehension of His mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, so grieveth for, and hates his sins, as to turn from them all unto God,3 purposing and endeavouring to walk with Him in all the ways of His commandments.4 15.3. Although repentance is not to be rested in, as any satisfaction for sin, or any cause of the pardon thereof,5 which is the act of God’s free grace in Christ,6 yet it is of such necessity to all sinners, that none may expect pardon without it.7 15.4. As there is no sin so small, but it deserves damnation;8 so there is no sin so great, that it can bring damnation upon those who truly repent.9 15.5. Men ought not to content themselves with a general repentance, but it is every man’s duty to endeavor to repent of his particular sins, particularly.10 15.6. As every man is bound to make private confession of his sins to God, praying for the pardon thereof;11 upon which, and the forsaking of them, he shall find mercy;12 so, he that scandelizeth his brother, or the Church of Christ, ought to be willing, by a private or public confession, and sorrow for his sin, to declare his repentance to those that are offended,13 who are thereupon to be reconciled to him, and in love to receive him.14 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.
Zechariah 12:10; Acts 11:18 Luke 24:47; Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21 Ezekiel 18:30-31, 36:31; Isaiah 30:22; Psalm 51:4; Jeremiah 31:18-19; Joel 2:12-13; Amos 5:15; Psalm 119:128; 2 Corinthians 7:11 Psalm 119:6, 59, 106; Luke 1:6; 2 Kings 23:25 Ezekiel 36:31-32; 16:61-63 Hosea 14:2, 4; Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:7 Luke 13:3,5; Acts 17:30-31 Romans 6:23; 5:12; Matthew 12:36 Isaiah 55:7; Romans 8:1; Isaiah 1:16, 18 Psalm 19:13; Luke 19:8; 1 Timothy 1:13, 15 Psalm 51:4-5, 7, 9, 14; 32:5-6 Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9 James 5:16; Luke 17:3-4; Joshua 7:19; Psalm 51 2 Corinthians 2:8
Chapter XVI: Of Good Works 16.1. Good works are only such as God hath commanded in His holy Word,1 and not such as, without the warrant thereof, are devised by men, out of blind zeal, or upon any pretence of good intention.2 16.2. These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith:3 and by them believers manifest their thankfulness,4 strengthen their assurance,5 edify their brethren,6 adorn the profession of the Gospel,7 stop the mouths of the adversaries,8 and glorify God,9 whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto,10 that, having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end, eternal life.11
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16.3. Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ.12 And that they may be enabled thereunto, beside the graces they have already received, there is required an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them to will, and to do, of His good pleasure13 yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty unless upon a special motion of the Spirit; but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.14 16.4. They who, in their obedience, attain to the greatest height which is possibley in this life, are so far from being able to supererogate, and to do more than God requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do.15 16.5. We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin, or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come; and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom, by them, we can neither profit, nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins,16 but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants:17 and because, as they are good, they proceed from His Spirit,18 and as they are wrought by us, they are defiled, and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God’s judgment.19 16.6. Notwithstanding, the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in Him;20 not as though they were in this life wholly unblamable and unreproveable in God’s sight;21 but that He, looking upon them in His Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.22 16.7. Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands; and of good use both to themselves and others23 yet, because they proceed not from an heart purified by faith;24 nor are done in a right manner, according to the Word;25 nor to a right end, the glory of God,26 they are therefore sinful and cannot please God, or make a man meet to receive grace from God:27 and yet, their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing unto God.28 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28.
Micah 6:8; Romans 12:2; Hebrews 13:21 Matthew 15:9; Isaiah 29:13; 1 Peter 1:18; Romans 10:2; John 16:2; 1 Samuel 15:21-23 James 2:18, 22 Psalm 116:12-13; 1 Peter 2:9 1 John 2:3, 5; 2 Peter 1:5-10 2 Corinthians 9:2; Matthew 5:16 Titus 2:5, 9-12; 1 Timothy 6:1 1 Peter 2:15 1 Peter 2:12; Philippians 1:11; John 15:8 Ephesians 2:10 Romans 6:22 John 15:4-6; Ezekiel 36:26-27 Philippians 2:13; 4:13; 2 Corinthians 3:5 Philippians 2:12; Hebrews 6:11-12; 2 Peter 1:3, 5, 10-11; Isaiah 64:7; 2 Timothy 1:6; Acts 26:6, 7; Jude 20,21 Luke 17:10; Nehemiah 13:22; Job 9:2-3; Galatians 5:17 Romans 3:20; Romans 4:2, 4, 6; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; Romans 8:18; Psalm 16:2; Job 22:2-3; 35:7-8 Luke 17:10 Galatians 5:22-23 Isaiah 64:6; Galatians 5:17; Romans 7:15, 18; Psalm 143:2; 130:3 Ephesians 1:6; 1 Peter 2:5; Exodus 28:38; Genesis 4:4; Hebrews 11:4 Job 9:20; Psalm 143:2 Hebrews 13:20-21; 2 Corinthians 8:12; Hebrews 6:10; Matthew 25:21, 23 2 Kings 10:30-31; 1 Kings 21:27, 29; Philippians 1:15-16, 18 Genesis 4:5; Hebrews 11:4, 6 1 Corinthians 13:3; Isaiah 1:12 Matthew 6:2, 5, 16 Haggai 2:14; Titus 1:15; Amos 5:21-22; Hosea 1:4; Romans 9:16; Titus 3:15 Psalm 14:4; 36:3; Job 21:14-15; Matthew 25:41-43, 45; Matthew 23:23
Chapter XVII: Of the Perseverance of the Saints 17.1. They, whom God hath accepted in His Beloved, effectually called, and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.1 17.2. This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father;2 upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ,3 the abiding of the Spirit, and of the seed of God within them,4 and the nature of the covenant of grace:5 from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.6 17.3. Nevertheless, they may, through the temptations of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of the means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins;7
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and, for a time, continue therein:8 whereby they incur God’s displeasure,9 and grieve His Holy Spirit,10 come to be deprived of some measure of their graces and comforts,11 have their hearts hardened,12 and their consciences wounded;13 hurt and scandalize others,14 and bring temporal judgments upon themselves.15 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Philippians 1:6; 2 Peter 1:10; John 10:28-29; 1 John 3:9; 1 Peter 1:5, 9 2 Timothy 2:18-19; Jeremiah 31:3 Hebrews 10:10, 14; 13:20-21; 9:12-15; Romans 8:33-39; John 17:11, 24; Luke 22:32; Hebrews 7:25 John 14:16-17; 1 John 2:27; 3:9 Jeremiah 32:40 John 10:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; 1 John 2:19 Matthew 26:70, 72, 74 Psalm 51:10; 51:14 Isaiah 64:5, 7, 9; 2 Samuel 11:27 Ephesians 4:30 Psalm 51:8, 10, 12; Revelation 2:4; Song 5:2-4, 6 Isaiah 63:17; Mark 6:52; 16:14 Psalm 32:3-4; 51:8 2 Samuel 12:14 Psalm 89:31-32; 1 Corinthians 11:32
Chapter XVIII: Of Assurance of Grace and Salvation 18.1. Although hypocrites and other unregenerate men may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favor of God, and estate of salvation1 (which hope of theirs shall perish):2 yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love Him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before Him, may, in this life, be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace,3 and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed.4 18.2. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion grounded upon a fallible hope; 5 but an infallible assurance of faith founded upon the divine truth of the promises of salvation,6 the inward evidence of those graces unto which these promises are made,7 the testimony of the Spirit of adoption witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God,8 which Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance, whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption.9 18.3. This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties, before he be partaker of it10 yet, being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary revelation in the right use of ordinary means, attain thereunto.11 And therefore it is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure,12 that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience,13 the proper fruits of this assurance; so far is it from inclining men to looseness.14 18.4. True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as, by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin which woundeth the conscience and grieveth the Spirit; by some sudden or vehement temptation, by God’s withdrawing the light of His countenance, and suffering even such as fear Him to walk in darkness and to have no light:15 yet are they never so utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life of faith, that love of Christ and the brethren, that sincerity of heart, and conscience of duty, out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may, in due time, be revived;16 and by the which, in the mean time, they are supported from utter despair.17 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
Job 8:13-14; Micah 3:11; Deuteronomy 29:19; John 8:41 Matthew 7:22-23 1 John 2:3; 3:14, 18-19, 21, 24; 5:13 Romans 5:2, 5 Hebrews 6:11, 19 Hebrews 6:17-18 2 Peter 1:4-5, 10-11; 1 John 2:3; 3:14; 2 Corinthians 1:12 Romans 8:15-16 Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 1 John 5:13; Isaiah 50:10; Mark 9:24; Psalm 88; Psalm 77:1-12 1 Corinthians 2:12; 1 John 4:13; Hebrews 6:11-12; Ephesians 3:17-19 2 Peter 1:10 Romans 5:1-2, 5; 14:17; 15:13; Ephesians 1:3-4; Psalm 4:6-7, 119:32 1 John 2:1-2; Romans 6:1-2; Titus 2:11-12, 14; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Romans 8:1, 12; 1 John 3:2-3; Psalm 130:4; 1 John 1:6-7 Song 5:2-3, 6; Psalm 51:8, 12, 14; Ephesians 4:30-31; Psalm 77:1-10; Matthew 26:69-72; Psalm 31:22; Psalm 88; Isaiah 50:10 1 John 3:9; Luke 22:32; Job 13:15; Psalm 73:15; Psalm 51:8, 12; Isaiah 50:10 Micah 7:7-9; Jeremiah 32:40; Isaiah 54:7-10; Psalm 22:1; Psalm 88
Chapter XIX: Of the Law of God
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19.1. God gave to Adam a law, as a covenant of works, by which He bound him and all his posterity, to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience, promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it, and endued him with power and ability to keep it.1 19.2. This law, after his fall, continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness; and, as such, was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai, in ten commandments, and written in two tables:2 the first four commandments containing our duty toward God; and the other six, our duty to man.3 19.3. Besides this law, commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel, as a church under age, ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, His graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits;4 and partly, holding forth divers instructions of moral duties.5 All which ceremonial laws are now abrogated, under the New Testament.6 19.4. To them also, as a body politic, He gave sundry judicial laws, which expired together with the State of that people; not obliging under any now, further than the general equity thereof may require.7 19.5. The moral law doth forever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof;8 and that, not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God the Creator, who gave it.9 Neither doth Christ, in the Gospel, any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation.10 19.6. Although true believers be not under the law, as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified, or condemned;11 yet is it of great use to them, as well as to others; in that, as a rule of life informing them of the will of God, and their duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly;12 discovering also the sinful pollutions of their nature, hearts and lives;13 so as, examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against sin,14 together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ, and the perfection of His obedience.15 It is likewise of use to the regenerate, to restrain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin:16 and the threatenings of it serve to show what even their sins deserve; and what afflictions, in this life, they may expect for them, although freed from the curse thereof threatened in the law.17 The promises of it, in like manner, show them God’s approbation of obedience, and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof:18 although not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works.19 So as, a man’s doing good, and refraining from evil, because the law encourages to the one and deters from the other, is no evidence of his being under the law; and not under grace.20 19.7. Neither are the forementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of the Gospel, but do sweetly comply with it;21 the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of man to do that freely, and cheerfully, which the will of God, revealed in the law, requires to be done.22 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.
Genesis 1:26-27; 2:17; Romans 2:14-15; 10:5; 5:12, 19; Galatians 3:10, 12; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Job 28:28 James 1:25; 2:8, 10-12; Romans 13:8-9; Deuteronomy 5:32; 10:4; Exodus 34:1 Matthew 22:37-40 Hebrews 9; 10:1; Galatians 4:1-3; Colossians 2:17 1 Corinthians 5:7; 2 Corinthians 6:17; Jude 23 Colossians 2:14, 16-17; Daniel 9:27; Ephesians 2:15-16 Exodus 21; 22:1-29; Genesis 49:10; 1 Peter 2:13-14; Matthew 5:17, 38-39; 1 Corinthians 9:8-10 Romans 13:8-10; Ephesians 6:2; 1 John 2:3-4, 7-8 James 2:10-11 Matthew 5:17-19; James 2:8; Romans 3:31 Romans 6:14; Galatians 2:16; 3:13, 4:4-5; Acts 13:39; Romans 8:1 Romans 7:12, 22, 25; Psalm 119:4-6; 1 Corinthians 7:19; Galatians 5:14, 16, 18-23 Romans 7:7; 3:20 James 1:23-25; Romans 7:9, 14, 24 Galatians 3:24; Romans 7:24-25; 8:3-4 James 2:11; Psalm 119:101, 104, 128 Ezra 9:13-14; Psalm 89:30-34 Leviticus 26:1-14, 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 6:2-3; Psalm 37:11 Matthew 5:5; Psalm 19:11 Galatians 2:16; Luke 17:10 Romans 6:12, 14; 1 Peter 3:8-12 Psalm 34:12-16; Hebrews 12:28-29 Galatians 3:21 Ezekiel 36:27; Hebrews 8:10 Jeremiah 31:33
Chapter XX: Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience 20.1. The liberty which Christ hath purchased for believers under the Gospel consists in their freedom from the guilt of sin, and condemning wrath of God, the curse of the moral law;1 and, in their being delivered from this present evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of sin;2 from the evil of afflictions, the sting of death, the victory of the grave, and everlasting damnation;3 as also, in their free access to God,4 and their yielding obedience unto Him, not out of slavish fear, but a child-like love and willing mind.5 All which were common also to believers under the law.6 But, under the New Testament, the liberty of Christians is further enlarged, in their freedom from the yoke of the ceremonial law, to which the Jewish Church was
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subjected;7 and in greater boldness of access to the throne of grace,8 and in fuller communications of the free Spirit of God, than believers under the law did ordinarily partake of.9 20.2. God alone is Lord of the conscience,10 and hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are, in any thing, contrary to His Word; or beside it, if matters of faith, or worship.11 So that, to believe such doctrines, or to obey such commands, out of conscience, is to betray true liberty of conscience:12 and the requiring of an implicit faith, and an absolute and blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience, and reason also.13 20.3. They who, upon pretence of Christian liberty, do practice any sin, or cherish any lust, do thereby destroy the end of Christian liberty, which is, that being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, we might serve the Lord without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life.14 20.4. And because the powers which God hath ordained, and the liberty which Christ hath purchased are not intended by God to destroy, but mutually to uphold and preserve one another, they who, upon pretence of Christian liberty, shall oppose any lawful power, or the lawful exercise of it, whether it be civil or ecclesiastical, resist the ordinance of God.15 And, for their publishing of such opinions, or maintaining of such practices, as are contrary to the light of nature, or to the known principles of Christianity (whether concerning faith, worship, or conversation), or to the power of godliness; or, such erroneous opinions or practices, as either in their own nature, or in the manner of publishing or maintaining them, are destructive to the external peace and order which Christ hath established in the Church, they may lawfully be called to account,16 and proceeded against, by the censures of the Church. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.
Titus 2:14; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Galatians 3:13 Galatians 1:4; Colossians 1:13; Acts 26:18; Romans 6:14 Romans 8:28; Psalm 119:71; 1 Corinthians 15:54-57; Romans 8:1 Romans 5:1-2 Romans 8:14-15; 1 John 4:18 Galatians 3:9, 14 Galatians 4:1-3, 6-7; 5:1; Acts 15:10-11 Hebrews 4:14, 16; 10:19-22 John 7:38-39; 2 Corinthians 3:13, 17-18 James 4:12; Romans 14:4 Acts 4:19; 5:29; 1 Corinthians 7:23; Matthew 23:8-10; 2 Corinthians 1:24; Matthew 15:9 Colossians 2:20, 22-23; Galatians 1:10; 2:4-5; 5:1 Romans 10:17; 14:23; Isaiah 8:20; Acts 17:11; John 4:22; Hosea 5:11; Revelation 13:12, 16-17; Jeremiah 8:9 Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 2:16; 2 Peter 2:19; John 8:34; Luke 1:74-75 Matthew 12:25; 1 Peter 2:13-14, 16; Romans 13:1-8; Hebrews 13:17 Romans 1:32; 1 Corinthians 5:1, 5, 11, 13; 2 John 10-11; 2 Thessalonians 3:14; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; Titus 1:10-11, 13; 3:10; Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Timothy 1:19-20; Revelation 2:2, 14-15, 20; 3:9
Chapter XXI: Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day 21.1. The light of nature showeth that there is a God, who hath lordship and sovereignty over all, is good, and doth good unto all, and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the might.1 But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted by Himself, and so limited by His own revealed will, that He may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation, or any other way not prescribed in the holy Scripture.2 21.2. Religious worship is to be given to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and to Him alone;3 not to angels, saints, or any other creature:4 and, since the fall, not without a Mediator; nor in the mediation of any other but of Christ alone.5 21.3. Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one special part of religious worship,6 is by God required of all men:7 and, that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the Son,8 by the help of His Spirit,9 according to His will,10 with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love and perseverance;11 and, if vocal, in a known tongue.12 21.4. Prayer is to be made for things lawful;13 and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter:14 but not for the dead,15 nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death.16 21.5. The reading of the Scriptures with godly fear,17 the sound preaching18 and conscionable hearing of the Word, in obedience unto God, with understanding, faith and reverence,19 singing of psalms with grace in the heart;20 as also, the due administration and worthy receiving of the sacraments instituted by Christ, are all parts of the ordinary religious worship of God:21 beside religious oaths,22 vows,23 solemn fastings,24 and thanksgivings upon special occasions,25 which are, in their several times and seasons, to be used in an holy
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and religious manner.26 21.6. Neither prayer, nor any other part of religious worship, is now, under the Gospel, either tied unto, or made more acceptable by any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed:27 but God is to be worshipped everywhere,28 in spirit and truth;29 as, in private families30 daily,31 and in secret, each one by himself;32 so, more solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly or willfully to be neglected, or forsaken, when God, by His Word or providence, calleth thereunto.33 21.7. As it is the law of nature, that, in general, a due proportion of time be set apart for the worship of God; so, in His Word, by a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment binding all men in all ages, He hath particularly appointed one day in seven, for a Sabbath, to be kept holy unto him:34 which, from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week: and, from the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the first day of the week, 35 which, in Scripture, is called the Lord’s Day,36 and is to be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian Sabbath.37 21.8. This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs beforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all the day from their own works, words, and thoughts about their wordly employments and recreations;38 but also are taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.39 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 1. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31.
Romans 1:20; Acts 17:24; Psalm 119:68; Jeremiah 10:7; Psalm 31:23; 18:3; Romans 10:12; Psalm 62:8; Joshua 24:14; Mark 12:33 Deuteronomy 12:32; Matthew 15:9; Acts 17:25; Matthew 4:9-10; Deuteronomy 15:1-20; Exodus 20:4-6; Colossians 2:23 Matthew 4:10; John 5:23; 2 Corinthians 13:14 Colossians 2:18; Revelation 19:10; Romans 1:25 John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5; Ephesians 2:18; Colossians 3:17 Philippians 4:6 Psalm 65:6 John 14:13-14; 1 Peter 2:5 Romans 8:26 1 John 5:14 Psalm 47:7; Ecclesiastes 5:1-2; Hebrews 12:28; Genesis 18:27; James 5:16; 1:6-7; Mark 11:24; Matthew 6:12, 14-15; Colossians 4:2; Ephesians 6:18 1 Corinthians 14:14 1 John 5:14 1 Timothy 2:1-2; John 17:20; 2 Samuel 7:29; Ruth 4:12 2 Samuel 12:21-23; Luke 16:25-26; Revelation 14:13 1 John 5:16 Acts 15:21; Revelation 1:3 2 Timothy 4:2 James 1:22; Acts 10:33; Matthew 13:19; Hebrews 4:2; Isaiah 66:2 Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19; James 5:13 Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29; Acts 2:42 Deuteronomy 6:13; Nehemiah 10:29 Isaiah 19:21; Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 Joel 2:12; Esther 4:16; Matthew 9:15; 1 Corinthians 7:5 Psalm 107; Esther 9:22 Hebrews 12:28 John 4:21 Malachi 1:11; 1 Timothy 2:8 John 4:23-24 Jeremiah 10:25; Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Job 1:5; 2 Samuel 6:18, 20; 1 Peter 3:7; Acts 10:2 Matthew 6:11 Matthew 6:6; Ephesians 6:18 Isaiah 56:6, 7; Hebrews 10:25; Proverbs 1:20-21, 24; 8:34; Acts 13:42; Luke 4:16; Acts 2:42 Exodus 20:8, 10-11; Isaiah 56:2, 4, 6-7 Genesis 2:2-3; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Acts 20:7 Revelation 1:10 Exodus 20:8, 10 Matthew 5:17-18 Exodus 20:8; 16:23, 25-26, 29-30; 31:15-17; Isaiah 58:13; Nehemiah 13:15-19, 21-22 Isaiah 58:13; Matthew 12:1-13
Chapter XXII: Of Lawful Oaths and Vows 22.1. A lawful oath is part of religious worship,1 wherein, upon just occasion, the person swearing solemnly calleth God to witness what he asserts, or promises, and to judge him according to the truth or falsehood of what he sweareth.2 22.2. The name of God only is that by which men ought to swear, and therein it is to be used with all holy fear and reverence.3 Therefore, to swear vainly, or rashly, by that glorious and dreadful Name; or, to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful, and to be abhorred.4 Yet, as in matters of weight and moment, an oath is warranted by the Word of God, under the New Testament as well as under the old;5 so a lawful oath, being imposed by lawful authority, in such matters, ought to be taken.6 22.3. Whosoever taketh an oath ought duly to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act, and therein to avouch nothing but what he is fully persuaded is the truth:7 neither may any man bind himself by oath to any thing but what is good and just, and what he believeth so to be, and what he is able and resolved to
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perform.8 22.4. An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words, without equivocation, or mental reservation.9 It cannot oblige to sin; but in any thing not sinful, being taken, it binds to performance, although to a man’s own hurt.10 Not is it to be violated, although made to heretics, or infidels.11 22.5. A vow is of the like nature with a promissory oath, and ought to be made with the like religious care, and to be performed with the like faithfulness.12 22.6. It is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone:13 and that it may be accepted, it is to be made voluntarily, out of faith, and conscience of duty, in way of thankfulness for mercy received, or for the obtaining of what we want, whereby we more strictly bind ourselves to necessary duties: or, to other things, so far and so long as they may fitly conduce thereunto.14 22.7. No man may vow to do any thing forbidden in the Word of God, or what would hinder any duty therein commanded, or which is not in his own power, and for the performance whereof he hath no promise of ability from God.15 In which respects, popish monastical vows of perpetual single life, professed poverty, and regular obedience, are so far from being degrees of higher perfection, that they are superstitious and sinful snares, in which no Christian may entangle himself.16 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.
Deuteronomy 10:20 Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 19:12; 2 Corinthians 1:23; 2 Chronicles 6:22-23 Deuteronomy 6:13 Exodus 20:7; Jeremiah 5:7; Matthew 5:34, 37; James 5:12 Hebrews 6:16; 2 Corinthians 1:23; Isaiah 65:16 1 Kings 8:31; Nehemiah 13:25; Ezra 10:5 Exodus 20:7; Jeremiah 4:2 Genesis 24:2-3, 5-6, 8-9 Jeremiah 4:2; Psalm 24:4 1 Samuel 25:22, 32-34; Psalm 15:4 Ezekiel 17:16, 18-19; Joshua 9:18-19 2 Samuel 21:1 Isaiah 19:21; Ecclesiastes 5:4-6; Psalm 61:8; 66:13-14 Psalm 76:11; Jeremiah 44:25-26 Deuteronomy 23:21-23; Psalm 50:14; Genesis 28:20-22; 1 Samuel 1:11; Psalm 66:13-14; 132:2-5 Acts 23:12, 14; Mark 6:26; Numbers 30:5, 8, 12-13 Matthew 19:11-12; 1 Corinthians 7:2, 9; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Peter 4:2; 1 Corinthians 7:23
Chapter XXIII: Of the Civil Magistrate 23.1. God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magistrates, to be, under Him, over the people, for His own glory, and the public good: and, to this end, hath armed them with the power of the sword, for the defence and encouragement of them that are good, and for the punishment of evil doers.1 23.2. It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the office of a magistrate, when called thereunto:2 in the managing whereof, as they ought especially to maintain piety, justice, and peace, according to the wholesome laws of each commonwealth;3 so, for that end, they may lawfully, now under the New Testament, wage war, upon just and necessary occasion.4 23.3. Civil magistrates may not assume to themselves the administration of the Word and sacraments5 or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven;6 or, in the least, interfere in matters of faith.7 Yet, as nursing fathers, it is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the Church of our common Lord, without giving the preference to any denomination of Christians above the rest, in such a manner that all ecclesiastical persons whatever shall enjoy the full, free, and unquestioned liberty of discharging every part of their sacred functions, without violence or danger.8 And, as Jesus Christ hath appointed a regular government and discipline in his Church, no law of any commonwealth should interfere with, let, or hinder, the due exercise thereof, among the voluntary members of any denomination of Christians, according to their own profession and belief.9 It is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the person and good name of all their people, in such an effectual manner as that no person be suffered, either upon pretense of religion or of infidelity, to offer any indignity, violence, abuse, or injury to any other person whatsoever: and to take order, that all religious and ecclesiastical assemblies be held without molestation or disturbance.10 23.4. It is the duty of people to pray for magistrates,11 to honor their persons,12 to pay them tribute or other dues,13 to obey their lawful commands, and to be subject to their authority, for conscience’ sake.14 Infidelity, or difference in religion, doth not make void the magistrates’ just and legal authority, nor free the people from their due obedience to them:15 from which ecclesiastical persons are not exempted,16 much less
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hath the Pope any power and jurisdiction over them in their dominions, or over any of their people; and, least of all, to deprive them of their dominions, or lives, if he shall judge them to be heretics, or upon any other pretence whatsoever.17 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
Romans 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:13-14 Proverbs 8:15-16; Romans 13:1-2, 4 Psalm 2:10-11; 1 Timothy 2:2; Psalm 82:3-4; 2 Samuel 23:3; 1 Peter 2:13 Luke 3:14; Romans 13:4; Matthew 8:9, 10; Acts 10:1, 2; Revelation 17:14, 16 2 Chronicles 26:18; Matthew 18:17; Matthew 16:19; 1 Corinthians 12:28-29; Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; Romans 10:15; Hebrews 5:4 John 18:36; Acts 5:29; Ephesians 4:11-12 Isaiah 49:23; Romans 13:1-6 Psalm 105:15; Acts 18:14-15 Romans 13:4; 1 Timothy 2:2 1 Timothy 2:1-2 1 Peter 2:17 Romans 13:6-7 Romans 13:5; Titus 3:1 Peter 2:13-14,16 Romans 13:1; 1 Kings 2:35; Acts 25:9-11; 2 Peter 2:1,10-11; Jude 8-11 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:15-17
Chapter XXIV: Of Marriage and Divorce 24.1. Marriage is to be between one man and one woman: neither is it lawful for any man to have more than one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband, at the same time.1 24.2. Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife,2 for the increase of mankind with a legitimate issue, and of the Church with an holy seed;3 and for preventing of uncleanness.4 24.3. It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry, who are able with judgment to give their consent.5 Yet it is the duty of Christians to marry only in the Lord.6 And therefore such as profess the true reformed religion should not marry with infidels, papists, or other idolaters: neither should such as are godly be unequally yoked, by marrying with such as are notoriously wicked in their life, or maintain damnable heresies.7 24.4. Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity forbidden by the Word.8 Nor can such incestuous marriages ever be made lawful by any law of man or consent of parties, so as those persons may live together as man and wife.9 24.5. Adultery or fornication committed after a contract, being detected before marriage, gives just occasion to the innocent party to dissolve that contract.10 In the case of adultery after marriage, it is lawful for the innocent party to sue out a divorce and, after the divorce,11 to marry another, as if the offending party were dead.12 24.6. Although the corruption of man be such as is apt to study arguments unduly to put asunder those whom God hath joined together in marriage: yet, nothing but adultery, or such willful desertion as can no way be remedied by the Church, or civil magistrate, is cause sufficient of dissolving the bond of marriage:13 wherein, a public and orderly course of proceeding is to be observed; and the persons concerned in it not left to their own wills, and discretion, in their own case.14 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.
Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5-6; Proverbs 2:17 Genesis 2:18 Malachi 2:15 1 Corinthians 7:2, 9 Hebrews 13:4; 1 Timothy 4:3; 1 Corinthians 7:36-38; Genesis 24:57-58 1 Corinthians 7:39 Genesis 34:14; Exodus 34:16; Deuteronomy 7:3-4; 1 Kings 11:4; Nehemiah 13:25-27; Malachi 2:11-12; 2 Corinthians 6:14 Leviticus 18; 1 Corinthians 5:1; Amos 2:7 Mark 6:18; Leviticus 18:24-28 Matthew 1:18-20 Matthew 5:31-32 Matthew 19:9; Romans 7:2-3 Matthew 19:8-9; 1 Corinthians 7:15; Matthew 19:6 Deuteronomy 24:1-4
Chapter XXV: Of the Church 25.1. The catholic or universal Church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the Head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of Him that fills all in all.1
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25.2. The visible Church, which is also catholic or universal under the Gospel (not confined to one nation, as before under the law), consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion;2 and of their children:3 and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ,4 the house and family of God,5 out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation.6 25.3. Unto this catholic visible Church Christ hath given the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering and perfecting of the saints, in this life, to the end of the world: and doth, by His own presence and Spirit, according to His promise, make them effectual thereunto.7 25.4. This catholic Church hath been sometimes more, sometimes less visible.8 And particular Churches, which are members thereof, are more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the Gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed more or less purely in them.9 25.5. The purest Churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error;10 and some have so degenerated, as to become no Churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan.11 Nevertheless, there shall be always a Church on earth to worship God according to His will.12 25.6. There is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ.13 Nor can the Pope of Rome, in any sense, be head thereof.14 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.
Ephesians 1:10, 22-23; 5:23, 27, 32; Colossians 1:18 1 Corinthians 1:2; 12:12-13; Psalm 2:8; Revelation 7:9; Romans 15:9-12 1 Corinthians 7:14; Acts 2:39; Ezekiel 16:20-21; Romans 11:16; Genesis 3:15; 17:7 Matthew 13:47; Isaiah 9:7 Ephesians 2:19; 3:15 Acts 2:47 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11-13; Matthew 28:19-20; Isaiah 59:21 Romans 11:3-4; Revelation 12:6, 14 Revelation 2-3; 1 Corinthians 5:6-7 Corinthians 13:12; Matthew 13:24-30, 47 Revelation 18:2; Romans 11:18-22 Matthew 16:18; Psalm 72:17; 102:28; Matthew 28:19-20 Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22 Matthew 23:8-10; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, 8-9; Revelation 13:6
Chapter XXVI: Of the Communion of Saints 26.1. All saints, that are united to Jesus Christ their Head, by His Spirit, and by faith, have fellowship with Him in His grace, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory:1 and, being united to one another in love, they have communion in each other’s gifts and graces,2 and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.3 26.2. Saints by profession are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification;4 as also in relieving each other in outward things, according to their several abilities and necessities. Which communion, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended unto all those who, in every place, call upon the name of the Lord Jesus.5 26.3. This communion which the saints have with Christ, doth not make them in any wise partakers of the substance of His Godhead; or to be equal with Christ in any respect: either of which to affirm is impious and blasphemous.6 Nor doth their communion one with another, as saints, take away, or infringe the title or propriety which each man hath in his goods and possessions.7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 John 1:3; Ephesians 3:16-19; John 1:16; Ephesians 2:5-6; Philippians 3:10; Romans 6:5-6; 2 Timothy 2:12 Ephesians 4:15-16; 1 Corinthians 12:7; 3:21-23; Colossians 2:19 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 14; Romans 1:11-12, 14; 1 John 3:16-18; Galatians 6:10 Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 2:42, 46; Isaiah 2:3; 1 Corinthians 11:20 Acts 2:44-45; 1 John 3:17; 2 Corinthians 8-9; Acts 11:29-30 Colossians 1:18-19; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Isaiah 42:8; 1 Timothy 6:15-16; Psalm 45:7; Hebrews 1:8-9 Exodus 20:15; Ephesians 4:28; Acts 5:4
Chapter XXVII: Of the Sacraments 27.1. Sacraments are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace,1 immediately instituted by God,2 to represent Christ and His benefits; and to confirm our interest in Him:3 as also, to put a visible difference between those that belong unto the Church and the rest of the world;4 and solemnly to engage them to the service of God in Christ, according to His Word.5
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27.2. There is, in every sacrament, a spiritual relation, or sacramental union, between the sign and the thing signified: whence it comes to pass, that the names and effects of the one are attributed to the other.6 27.3. The grace which is exhibited in or by the sacraments rightly used, is not conferred by any power in them; neither doth the efficacy of a sacrament depend upon the piety or intention of him that doth administer it:7 but upon the work of the Spirit,8 and the word of institution, which contains, together with a precept authorizing the use thereof, a promise of benefit to worthy receivers.9 27.4. There are only two sacraments ordained by Christ our Lord in the Gospel; that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord: neither of which may be dispensed by any, but by a minister of the Word lawfully ordained.10 27.5. The sacraments of the Old Testament in regard to the spiritual things thereby signified and exhibited, were, for substance, the same with those of the new. 11 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
Romans 4:11; Genesis 17:7, 10 Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23 1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:25-26; Galatians 3:27; 3:17 Romans 15:8; Exodus 12:48; Genesis 34:14 Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 21 Genesis 17:10; Matthew 26:27-28; Titus 3:5 Romans 2:28-29; 1 Peter 3:21 Matthew 3:11; 1 Corinthians 12:13 Matthew 26:27-28; Matthew 28:19-20 Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:20, 23; 4:1; Hebrews 5:4 1 Corinthians 10:1-4
Chapter XXVIII: Of Baptism 28.1. Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ,1 not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church;2 but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace,3 of his ingrafting into Christ,4 of regeneration,5 of remission of sins,6 and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in the newness of life.7 Which sacrament is, by Christ’s own appointment, to be continued in His Church until the end of the world.8 28.2. The outward element to be used in this sacrament is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, by a minister of the Gospel, lawfully called thereunto.9 28.3. Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary; but Baptism is rightly administered by pouring, or sprinkling water upon the person.10 28.4. Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ,11 but also the infants of one, or both, believing parents, are to be baptized.12 28.5. Although it is a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance,13 yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it, as that no person can be regenerated, or saved, without it:14 or, that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated.15 28.6. The efficacy of Baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered;16 yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinance, the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited, and conferred, by the Holy Spirit, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongs unto, according to the counsel of God’s own will, in His appointed time.17 28.7. The sacrament of Baptism is but once to be administered unto any person.18 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.
Matthew 28:19 Corinthians 12:13 Romans 4:11; Colossians 2:11-12 Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:5 Titus 3:5 Mark 1:4 Romans 6:3-4 Matthew 28:19-20 Matthew 3:11; John 1:33; Matthew 28:19-20 Hebrews 9:10, 19-22; Acts 2:41; 16:33; Mark 7:4 Mark 16:15-16; Acts 8:37-38 Genesis 17:7, 9 Galatians 3:9, 14; Colossians 2:11-12 ; Acts 2:38, 39; Romans 4:11-12; 1 Corinthians 7:14; Matthew 28:19; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15 Luke 7:30; Exodus 4:24-26
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14. 15. 16. 17. 18.
Romans 4:11; Acts 10:2, 4, 22, 31, 45, 47 Acts 8:13, 23 John 3:5, 8 Galatians 3:27; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 5:25-26; Acts 2:38, 41 Titus 3:5
Chapter XXIX: Of the Lord’s Supper 29.1. Our Lord Jesus, in the night wherein He was betrayed, instituted the sacrament of His body and blood, called the Lord’s Supper, to be observed in His Church, unto the end of the world, for the perpetual remembrance of the sacrifice of Himself in His death; the sealing all benefits thereof unto true believers, their spiritual nourishment and growth in Him, their further engagement in and to all duties which they owe unto Him; and, to be a bond and pledge of their communion with Him, and with each other, as members of His mystical body.1 29.2. In this sacrament, Christ is not offered up to His Father; nor any real sacrifice made at all, for remission of sins of the quick or dead;2 but only a commemoration of that one offering up of Himself, by Himself, upon the cross, once for all: and a spiritual oblation of all possible praise unto God, for the same:3 so that the popish sacrifice of the mass (as they call it) is most abominably injurious to Christ’s one, only sacrifice, the alone propitiation for all the sins of His elect.4 29.3. The Lord Jesus hath, in this ordinance, appointed His ministers to declare His word of institution to the people, to pray, and bless the elements of bread and wine, and thereby to set them apart from a common to an holy use; and to take and break the bread, to take the cup, and (they communicating also themselves) to give both to the communicants;5 but to none who are not then present in the congregation.6 29.4. Private masses, or receiving this sacrament by a priest, or any other alone;7 as likewise, the denial of the cup to the people,8 worshipping the elements, the lifting them up, or carrying them about, for adoration, and the reserving them for any pretended religious use; are all contrary to the nature of this sacrament, and to the institution of Christ.9 29.5. The outward elements in this sacrament, duly set apart to the uses ordained by Christ, have such relation to Him crucified, as that, truly, yet sacramentally only, they are sometimes called by the name of the things they represent, to wit, the body and blood of Christ;10 albeit, in substance and nature, they still remain truly and only bread and wine, as they were before.11 29.6. That doctrine which maintains a change of the substance of bread and wine, into the substance of Christ’s body and blood (commonly called transubstantiation) by consecration of a priest, or by any other way, is repugnant, not to Scripture alone, but even to common sense, and reason; overthrows the nature of the sacrament, and hath been, and is, the cause of manifold superstitions; yes, of gross idolatries.12 29.7. Worthy receivers, outwardly partaking of the visible elements, in this sacrament,13 do then also, inwardly by faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally but spiritually, receive and feed upon, Christ crucified, and all benefits of His death: the body and blood of Christ being then, not corporally or carnally, in, with, or under the bread and wine; yet, as really, but spiritually, present to the faith of believers in that ordinance, as the elements themselves are to their outward senses.14 29.8. Although ignorant and wicked men receive the outward elements in this sacrament; yet, they receive not the thing signified thereby; but, by their unworthy coming thereunto, are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, to their own damnation. Wherefore, all ignorant and ungodly persons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion with Him, so are they unworthy of the Lord’s table; and cannot, without great sin against Christ, while they remain such, partake of these holy mysteries,15 or be admitted thereunto.16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1
1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, 21; 1 Corinthians 12:13 Hebrews 9:22, 25, 26, 28 1 Corinthians 11:24-26; Matthew 26:26-27 Hebrews 7:23-24, 27; 10:11-12, 14, 18 Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:20 1 Corinthians 10:6 Mark 14:23; 1 Corinthians 11:25-29 Matthew 15:9 Matthew 26:26-28 1 Corinthians 11:26-28; Matthew 26:29 Acts 3:21; 1 Corinthians 11:24-26; Luke 24:6, 39 1 Corinthians 11:28 1 Corinthians 10:16 1 Corinthians 11:27-29; 2 Corinthians 6:14,16
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1
1 Corinthians 5:6-7, 13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15; Matthew 7:6
Chapter XXX: Of Church Censures 30.1. The Lord Jesus, as king and head of His Church, hath therein appointed a government, in the hand of Church officers, distinct from the civil magistrate.1 30.2. To these officers the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed; by virtue whereof, they have power, respectively, to retain, and remit sins; to shut that kingdom against the impenitent, both by the Word, and censures; and to open it unto penitent sinners, by the ministry of the Gospel; and by absolution from censures, as occasion shall require.2 30.3. Church censures are necessary, for the reclaiming and gaining of offending brethren, for deterring of others from the like offenses, for purging out of that leaven which might infect the whole lump, for vindicating the honor of Christ, and the holy profession of the Gospel, and for preventing the wrath of God, which might justly fall upon the Church, if they should suffer His covenant, and the seals thereof, to be profaned by notorious and obstinate offenders.3 30.4. For the better attaining of these ends, the officers of the Church are to proceed by admonition; suspension from the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper for a season; and by excommunication from the Church; according to the nature of the crime, and demerit of the person.4 1. 2. 3. 4.
Isaiah 9:6-7; 1 Timothy 5:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:12; Acts 20:17-18; Hebrews 13:7, 17, 24; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Matthew 28:18-20 Matthew 16:19; 18:17-18; John 20:21-23; 2 Corinthians 2:6-8 1 Corinthians 5; 1 Timothy 5:20; Matthew 7:6; 1 Timothy 1:20; 1 Corinthians 11:27-34; Jude 23 1 Thessalonians 5:12; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15; 1 Corinthians 5:4-5, 13; Matthew 18:17; Titus 3:10
Chapter XXXI: Of Synods and Councils 31.1. For the better government, and further edification of the Church, there ought to be such assemblies as are commonly called synods or councils:1 and it belongs to the overseers and other rulers of the particular Churches, by virtue of their office, and the power which Christ hath given them for edification and not for destruction, to appoint such assemblies;2 and to convene together in them, as often as they shall judge it expedient for the good of the Church.3 31.2. It belongs to synods and councils, ministerially to determine controversies of faith, and cases of conscience; to set down rules and directions for the better ordering of the public worship of God, and government of his Church; to receive complaints in cases of maladministration, and authoritatively to determine the same; which decrees and determinations, if consonant to the Word of God, are to be received with reverence and submission; not only for their agreement with the Word, but also for the power whereby they are made, as being an ordinance of God appointed thereunto in His Word.4 31.3. All synods or councils, since the apostles’ times, whether general or particular, may err; and many have erred. Therefore they are not to be made the rule of faith, or practice; but to be used as a help in both.5 31.4. Synods and councils are to handle, or conclude nothing, but that which is ecclesiastical: and are not to intermeddle with civil affairs which concern the commonwealth, unless by way of humble petition in cases extraordinary; or, by way of advice, for satisfaction of conscience, if they be thereunto required by the civil magistrate.6 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Acts 15:2, 4, 6 Acts 15 Acts 15: 22-23, 25 Acts 15:15, 19, 24, 27-31; 16:4; Matthew 18:17-20 Ephesians 2:20; Acts 17:11; 1 Corinthians 2:5; 2 Corinthians 1:24 Luke 12:13-14; John 18:36
Chapter XXXII: Of the State of Men after Death, and of the Resurrection of the Dead 32.1. The bodies of men, after death, return to dust, and see corruption:1 but their souls, which neither die nor sleep, having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them:2 the souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the
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face of God, in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies.3 And the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day.4 Beside these two places, for souls separated from their bodies, the Scripture acknowledges none. 32.2. At the last day, such as are found alive shall not die, but be changed:5 and all the dead shall be raised up, with the selfsame bodies, and none other (although with different qualities), which shall be united again to their souls forever.6 32.3. The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonor: the bodies of the just, by His Spirit, unto honor; and be made conformable to His own glorious body.7 1. 2. 3. 1. 2. 3. 4.
Genesis 3:19; Acts 13:36 Luke 23:43; Ecclesiastes 12:7 Hebrews 12:23; 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6, 8; Philippians 1:23; Acts 3:21; Ephesians 4:10 Luke 16:23-24; Acts 1:25; Jude 6-7; 1 Peter 3:19 1 Thessalonians 4:17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Job 19:26-27; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 Acts 24:15; John 5:28-29; 1 Corinthians 15:43; Philippians 3:21
Chapter XXXIII: Of the Last Judgment 33.1. God hath appointed a day, wherein He will judge the world, in righteousness, by Jesus Christ,1 to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father.2 In which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged,3 but likewise all persons that have lived upon earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds; and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil.4 33.2. The end of God’s appointing this day is for the manifestation of the glory of His mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of His justice, in the damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient. For then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fulness of joy and refreshing, which shall come from the presence of the Lord; but the wicked who know not God, and obey not the Gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eternal torments, and be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.5 33.3. As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from sin; and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity:6 so will He have that day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come; and may be ever prepared to say, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly, Amen.7 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Acts 17:31 John 5:22,27 1 Corinthians 6:3; Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:4 2 Corinthians 5:10; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Romans 2:16; 14:10, 12; Matthew 12:36-37 Matthew 25:31-46; Romans 2:5-6; 9:22-23; Matthew 25:21; Acts 3:19; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 2 Peter 3:11, 14; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7; Luke 21:27-28; Romans 8:23-25 Matthew 24:36, 42-44; Mark 13:35-37; Luke 12:35-36; Revelation 22:20
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